Showing posts with label Explorace. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Explorace. Show all posts

Thursday, December 28, 2006

A Tribute to 2006

Finally, the year is coming to an end. I felt like singing My Way, really. But that's just me, corny as usual.

I did something similiar last year, reflecting on my 2005 and what happened throughout the years with notable memories.

This year would not be much different as i wind up the year!

January 2006
With absolutely nothing to do in January, a couple of us decided to cycle up Cameron. It was my first maiden trip via Simpang Pulai and i was looking forward to it as much as the rest of the jokers that went along. We got up safe, but decided to ditch the idea of riding 70km down via the same road as we were drenched with sweat and the mist. The cold wind would be enough to freeze one of us!

And what more fun than to have a press conference where you are one of the people the press would, err...interview? Felt like a celeb? you bet!!! And seeing my own face in the paper again after so many years!

January was a really hectic month with rides, runs and more cam whoring!

Memorable moment: Terence Penguin was diagnosed with brain aneurysms and till today, he is still racing. How is that for human spirit? Get well son bro!

February 2006
With wedding just around the corner and loads of things need to be done, i found myself prioritising and had to leave the dream of racing in Ironman Langkawi. Nevermind the fact that i've not registered for it, but i have every intention of racing it sans the road bike. Now that i've missed it totally, and gonna miss it again in 2007, i decide that targeting to do this in 2008 would be a better idea. Enough time to save for a road bike and enough time for more preparation.

So, to my 3 heroic friends that did Ironman Langkawi with minimal training and with one of them beating the crap out of some more accomplished atheletes, here's to you...WELL DONE!

Memorable Moment:Getting live update from Ironman Langkawi through Karo and Azmar, which were there to cheer, run, bike and accompany all of them until the finish line. Can't get better friends than that!

March 2006
With wedding just around the corner and a marathon to run. I somewhat felt that i was pushing everything to the limit. I did it in 2004, where i did the Perhentian Island Challenge like 2 weeks before my marriage registration, going into the registrar office with a tan so dark he thought me and wifey had the wrong place to register our wedding.

Accomplishing my first ever marathon (that is 42km mind you) in 5hours 55 minutes was hardly anything to brag about. But the mere fact that i actually complete it when my preparation was jeopordised by me having a viral attack in december and january, i know i should just be glad that i did finished it. And Thank You Adilah, for running with me up till the 34km mark (then you started running faster and i can't catch up!) Will i do it again? Well at that point of time, it's a hell yes! Read on to see if i have the intention to do it again....

Then came the wedding. Where all the effort over the past 2 years of organising it paid off. Iqbal, Karen and Claudia came from a far to grace out wedding. With my friends that grew up with me helping out and doing all the could, and with wifey's friends chipping in to help, it was a good experience for all of us. I must say i was really appreciative of their help and presence!

The saddest part was when Murphy boy went missing. Till this days, me and wifey still hope he is found by someone and well taken care of. It's like losing a family member! Devastating!

Memorable moment:When the pregnancy test kit turned postive a day after the wedding, before the Malaysian F1 GP. Iqbal was the first one to know about the pregnancy. I was excited and wifey kept asking me if the test is 100% accurate.

April 2006
Took a sabbatical from blogging and went missing for 2 weeks. Obviously no one misses me from the amount of comments or site traffic that i saw.

Went off to Bali with wifey for honeymoon. The deed was done, which makes every moment more rewarding (you can't get pregnant again when you are pregnant, right???) It was also my first trip to Bali, but it was wifey's second or third. It was a good break for both of us, especially when everything we planned for went smoothly and she is pregnant.

Memorable moment: Seeing our yet to be born son inside his/her mother's womb. He/She was only a dot wide! (ya la, that time don't know if boy or girl mah!). Anohter memorable moment was finding out that Chipang's wife and Zabil's wife was also pregnant and all of them share the same due date as my own baby. That could only mean that the fertilisation were all calculated to be on the same day, and it was the Ironman Langkawi weekend!

May 2006
My schedule race in Explorace Season 3. Me and bandit raced and managed to win the race with a very comfortable margin. To our opponents, James and David, thanks for the memories! We raced in Kota Tinggi in our frist round! I recalled Abang Jebat telling me that my hands were shaking when i open the clue envelope..and he was actually shooting with the camera like from 50meters away (for dramatic panaromic zoomed in effect la...)

The same month, i entered the first edition of MMDS at Dataran Merdeka. Recalling my knees getting weak the year before, i was more determined to finish the race in better timing. Afterall, i'm supposed to be fit and just finished my first ever marathon!

The same month too, a friend passed away. Rest in Peace Bro!

I too had the privy to cycle into National Park via Kahang with a bunch of like minded buggers. The ride was enjoyoable and fun. Some of us also caught sight of the Pigmy Elephants; a whole herd!

That trip was also the last i saw OP Tahir (The late, he passed away a week before christmas). May you rest in peace sir!

Memorable Moments: Seeing Bandit almost drown in Rompin and being saved by Superman Puzi. I almost lost a friend and a partner but i am just glad he is all safe. Since then, Bandit has tried to follow whatever Puzi does! Hahahah!

The other memorable moment was when i got my middle finger snapped by the mud crab's claw. The claw broke, but my finger was intact, abeit throbbing throughout the race in Kota Tinggi!

June 2006
Explorace Season 3 Round 2 brought me and Bandit to Thailand. To be more specific, Bangkok. We lost the race due to our luck with the local taxis. I felt really bad as it was me that has caused this mishap (i was in the taxi la!) and when i saw Amazing Race Asia Episode 7, where they raced in Bangkok (same route: Ayuthaya to Bangkok), i realised that Bangkok Taxi Drivers are a bunch of Morons!!!

The same month, because of frustration of not being in contention to grab the RM100K, me and bandit joined Eco-X in Hulu Langat. We did a last minute teammate change to balance out the group and my team, consist of Steve, Bacin and Me, were the only team among the LnE members that completed the race ranked.

June was a sad month too as Dr. Poon lost his daughter. May her soul rest in peace.


Then, Engelbert Humperdinck came to KL for the RMC-OPA Charity Dinner/Concert. The whole do was almost disastourous when Engelbert was down with bad sore infection. Cancellations and crowd control was the main highlight and kudos to all the volunteers ( that has the choice of walking away), that handled everything really well!

Memorable Moment: The excitement when Explorace Season 3 finally started airing on TV3. That could only mean i would be seeing myself on TV for the very first time!

July 2006
Went for my first unoffical race marshalling duty with Nomad Adventure for the 3R season finale.

Then coming out in the month's issue of Galaxie magazine of me and Bandit cycling when we were in Kota Tinggi for Explorace.

Then it was the first Triathlon race for me in 2006 in PD!!! Of which i did not do as well as i did the year before. Not sure why, but i'll definately train harder!

One week after, it was MMDS race 2 at Putrajaya. I managed to finish it of course, as usual. Timing was somewhat similiar to what i did last year. But there is no exact benchmark as the race was in a different venue compared to last year. Anyhow, it was a good race!

Then it was me and bandit on national TV!!! But of course, that morning, we were also on MHI!

Memorable moment: Being a wannabe TV star in July!

August 2006
August was more of a time to rest and reflect on what has happened over the year so far. I bought myself a Phiten product, which was supposed to eliviate pain and improve my atheletic performance(at least now got tools to blame if my racing sucks!).

But August was also the very first time i blogged about Ryan. Bringing my blog readers from him, being just a tiny cell in wifey's womb to showing the world his face. :)

August was also the month when me and Bandit finally won something BIG. We were the champ for AXN Amazing Mall Challenge!

On the 31st August 2006, a bunch of us actually went cycling around KL. We were at Dataran Merdeka when some reporters came up to us and snapped our pictures.

Memorable Moments: Seeing Ryan's face via 2D Scan! And Iqbal telling me that his wifey is expecting! Such joy! And of course, winning the cash and hamper in AXN Amazing Mall!!!!

September 2006
Considering myself lucky when i chance upon a Paradise Tree Snake, and a rare one at that when i went climbing with the usual suspect at Damai.

One day after i blogged about the snake, news has it that Steve Irwin passed away. It was indeed a sad day and a lost for the wildlife world. Rest In Peace bro!

September is also the month where i looked forward to. As it's also when the Desaru Long Distance Tri will take place. This was also the race where i beat ONE profesional triathelte! hahahaahah! My race time aside, it was indeed a really fun outing, and most probably my last before Ryan comes to the world.

I had my first taste of being a official marshall officially alongside Choco and Soulpop in Perhentian Island Challenge. Being a marshall and racing as a participant are a totally two different set of experience. It is easier to race than to marshall! Trust me on this!

September also marks the 4th year that i know my wife. Such bliss and joy! Thank you baby!

September was also my parent's wedding anniversary!

And to cap off September, i joined the crazy bunch to cycle up Genting again. It seems and looked like a yearly pilgramage for me! The immortals did it every week during the fasting month.

Memorable Moment: Eating the road going down Genting...ouch...

October 2006
October was when my mum gave me a blender old enough to be older than my youngest sis.

It's also the month when Wifey and partners opened yet anohter branch of their shop! Well done. 6 years down and they have 4 branches.

This month too, i realised that i totally forgotten to renew my Kancil's roadtax and has since been driving minus the road tax for the longest time. Getting old, but i had fatherhood to blame!

That also meant i had to say goodbye to my trusty ride and had gotten myself and wifey anohter new car!

It's also the month where my sister celebrate her 26th Birthday. happy birthday again sis!

And officially, i was allowed to tell the world that Iqbal would be a dad!

Memorable Moment: Saying goodbye to my old ride and getting a new one...

November 2006
With Ryan coming anytime soon, i decided to write a letter to him.

Then, it was my granma's 80th birthday celebration. By now, she's already a great-granmother!

Then it was my sis turn to be famous in 3R! Obviously getting more airtime than me..hahahahah!

I ran the Subang 10K as well. I did not break my own personal best time which i did last year. Maybe due to loads of inactivities over the months by spending more time with wifey.

My birthday came, then Zabil's daughter came, then Chipang's son came. Still no sign of Ryan coming out though. Would be great to share the same birthday as me, but like my mum said, he will come out when he wants to come out!

And finally, on the 18th November...Ryan Ambrose Lim Jo-Hann came into the world!

Memorable Moment: what else? Ryan of course

December 2006
With baby in our arms and taking up most of our time, wifey had a slow, but good birthday celebration.

Ryan grew pretty quickly and he seems to be the joy in both his paternal and maternal family side.

Then, Surin got married. Which was the highlight of December!

December are usually slow for me and family. With no races in sight and no rides that i've done since the last race in Desaru, it sure felt like ages. I recieved an entry form to run next year's KLIM on the 18th March 2007. I'm signing up, not to take advantage of the early bird discount, but to race again.

Hence, i was back on the threadmill yesterday, running a painful 2 mile (or 3.2km) in 15 minutes. Got to start somewhere, no?

Speaking of which, i enrolled in the Google Adsense. Got to try to find ways to earn some extra pocket money to buy milk for Ryan, no? So, readers, click on, please! :)

We had our first christmas as a family with wifey and Ryan. I must say, Fatherhood is rahter rewarding. Nevermind the sleepless nights and sleeping while feeding the baby, it's all worth it, especially when you see them smile and reacts to your action.

Memorable Moment: Surin's wedding. It's like seeing a brother getting married.

So, with December ending in 3 days time. Here i am, wishing all of you a very healthy, merry, happy, properous new year 2007. Many good tidings and many more good wishes for the years to come.

I won't have any new year resolution, infact, i never did have any for the longest time. I just hope that 2007 will be more exciting than 2006 in all the good way and manner!

Bring on 2007, i should say!

Monday, September 25, 2006

Explorace Prize Giving Ceremony

Well, you guys and girls seen it.



Rezman and Azahaari won Season 3. The team that me and Azly lost to in Bangkok.

It was followed by Misz and MJ in second place and Weng Aun and Cee Yee in third.


Congrats to all winners!

More pictures could be seen here at my lifelogger's account.

Stupe's Lifelogger Account

The other losers (ie me and the gang) received one ticket each from MAS. THANK YOU Malaysia Airline!



And to all you loyal viewers,supporters and sponsors...we, from Explorace Season 3 would like to THANK YOU ALL!!!


TQVM!!!

Newspaper cutting: here

Thursday, September 21, 2006

Baby Birth, Advert Accuracy, Explorace Final, Flying Cars and Etc.

Firstly...a very happy note, my friend, Steven, and his wife, Fiona, gave birth to a baby girl yesterday.

Baby Isabel came into the world at 3.35pm yesterday. Congrats la brader!

Wifey is now almost 32 weeks pregnant and baby Ryan is now weighing almost 1.6kg the last we saw him. We are getting excited about being parents as well and we just can't wait. Really!

Shen is expecting too this year...so is one more person which i will only reveal once everything is confirmed!

Next!!

Many should had noticed this advert near Uptown, PJ.


Advert by MYOB...on MYOB!

As you can see, it's clearly a MYOB advert, or Mind Your Own Business software. The guy/chap in the advert is someone i know.

And no, his name is NOT BENNY AW and he is NOT 46.

But at least they are right though, he is a Mechanic.


see, i told you

He has been my mechanic for many many years. One of the more trustworthy person i know when it comes to car (apart from the late Ah Yoong of course) and although his charges might be RM5 to RM10 more than the next mechanic, the comfort zone is that he would not charge you things, or change things you do not need to.

So far, only one case of complains that i've recieved from people i've reccommended. But since it was a continental car and he couldn't get the ECU fixed, that was where the extra charges came from.

But all else, he is reliable! So, if you ever need a mechanic, hop on over to Damansara Perdana and search for Economechanix near the going to be completed Ritze Perdana. Tell him that Lim (that's me) reccomended! (and no, i don't get free services there).

Anyway, i asked him why the name and age are different and his excuse was that he was SHY and do not want people to know that it's him. With that kinda of face, who won't recognise you? Hahahahahah!!!

I asked if he is using MYOB, he say he is. I suspect that is part of the whole agreement for them to use his photo. So, now, my mechanic is now more famous than me!

Talking about being famous, tonight is the final of Explorace Season 3. Yeap, final episode. Infact, as i am writing this, there will be a prize giving ceremony to the winners of Explorace Season 3 winner at 2.30pm at TV3 today. Yes, i'll be there to take more pics and by tomorrow, i'll post it up, if i could, as i would be in Melaka in the morning, if not, then watch it tonight at 9.30pm on TV3 for the absolute last episode of Explorace!


The final 3 teams that will slog it out at Sungai Petani Tonight

And to prove to some racist buggers(check message #135 and #146 by Wordlife which is one of the senior forumers in that forum...) that Explorace 3 contestants aren't even talking about race(as in racial issues) and only about the races(as in the Explorace races)...

Here a video of us having fun in Sungai Petani...


In the van to town...

Maybe just one more to convince we didn't kill each other...


Public transport!!!!

And since we are all talking about mechanics, public transport in Sg. Petani and ride in the van and all...this is just to prove that Malaysians are never short of eye candy in the form of ugly cars, here are more proof i've gathered over the past 2 days in KL and JB.


winner of all fugly car, can afford to modify, can't afford to paint!


OH my GAWWWDDD!!!

Not only it was fitted with ugly "crystal" lights (err..the Ah Bengs call them crystal because they are clear), the roof rack was couldn't even take any load, the Daihatsu sticker, the Move sticker and some japanese sticker which i'm sure the owner doesn't know what's written on it. Not shy ah?


how about the front? he missed out the air scoop...

Then, of course, there was one Satria parked right infront of this confused Kenari... not sure who is uglier though...


ultra lowered, good for scraping bumps and potholes

Oh ya, noticed that it did have a spoiler? noticed the 3 holes covered with bolts on top? maybe he is waiting for his customised GT wings.


yeah, now Vin Diesel would be peeing in his pants...


Wah...lifted bonnet in lieu of air scoop...

The stickers did give him/her some 10hp though...got the word "RACING" there wor!

What idiot!



And of course, the kenari above certainly thinks his spoiler would allow him to zig zag in and out of LDP from the Bridge all the way to St. Ignitius Church like Shoemaker. Speed so fast also i still catch him at the traffic backlog near the church...he was even overtaking cars on the left hand side near Kelana Puteri to go up the ramp! ought to be banned from driving!

And jsut to prove that JB folks too are very talented...this was taken in JB near the Kulai exit...



Complete package...racing stripes, fiber GT wings, half tinted windows, huge air press, 17inch rims on ultra low profile tyres, stickers claiming it has ICE installed and multiple door's rubber to prevent denting of the car next to you when you park......try to beat it, you worthless KL Tuners!!!

Well done la Macha, you score big points for putting like 4 dent buster on each of your door!!!

This song is dedicated to you all car modifier la...this must be your theme song.


wanna encore?

I better try to stop noticing the ugly cars around town...

Tuesday, August 22, 2006

Explorace Season 3 - people recognises us???

My Explorace Bangkok is over, as far as i'm concerned. Fair enough, most probably 25% of Malaysian has seen me having my head shaven and seeing me being frustrated by the taxi driver name Anant.

The experience could not be replicated in anyway, that i'm sure.

And so, from my race onwards, there is only 2 more races for semifinal and 2 more races for the Finals.

As we all know through the advertisment on NST and Also Berita Harian on 17th August 2006, full page, mind you, the other two semifinal location will be at Jakarta (This coming thursday, 24th August) between The Siblings (Zuki and Noreen) and Workmate (Weng Aun and Cee Yee).



The other location will be at Cambodia (Merdeka Day) between Working Mum (Jehan and Amalia) against Nestle Girls (MJ and Misz).

At the time of writing, most of us already know who won the coveted RM100k. Infact, half the town up north already know who won the race. I'm not gonna spoil it all for you all, but if you happen to have friends up north, then ask them if Explorace went to their place.

So, here is some picture spread of the finals...up north... *wink*

Lets just say they had loads of fun doing white water rafting, river boarding, flying fox, cycling, acting like Indiana Jones, having fun with the local dialects...and racing to be the eventual winners...



Oh ya, on the way back from north, we stopped by at Bukit Gantang RnR. A groups of girls was sniggering and pointing my way and they actually know my name! One had the guts to ask me to lift my cap up to see if my hair has grown back. One more just keep looking and smiling at me. It was scary and at the same time, surreal.

They knew us. We are Azly and Ee-Van from Explorace. Nevermind we lost the race in Bangkok, but they seems to recognise me from even the Johor race when one of them jested and did the Zapin dance (the hitchhiker dance)...



I told Bandit about it, he did not really believe me until when we raced in 1 Utama for the AXN Amazing Mall Challenge. It all started when a lady we asked for direction told us she saw us in Explorace, and thought we are racing in Explorace at 1 Utama. We blushed. Then, there is this two girls that waved and smiled at us and they said "Exploracer!".

Even the chap at Subway sandwhich recognise us when we went there to check if it was the location for the last CP.



The man in Giant which i asked for help also recognise me.

So was 2 teams of contestant...one mix team and one more all men's team. They recognise us and said we shouldn't had lost in Bangkok. But what can we do?! The winner has been announced and it's not us!



One of Bandit's workmate told him his mother love watching me.

Even the AXN babes recognise some of us during the weekend.

Then, one girl stopped Bandit while he was auditing in Carrefour Wangsa Maju and say "Abang Azly, apsal partner abang lembab sangat sampai buat kalah kat bangkok?"
Translation: Bro Azly, whis is your partner so weak and caused you guys to lose in Bangkok???

WOW!

Now, imagine if we would had been in the final. People would perhaps crazy over us!!! (wake up stupe, you're not Mawi or Siti, or even Dato K...)

It felt kinda funny to be recognised.



My neighbour caught me on Astro Channel 4 (Ria) and told me now whole Malaysia knows i won the AXN Mall Challenge. Yeah, as if.

Life goes on, lets bask in this glory while it's still there. I won't be able to make as any Powerbar Athelete or be able to afford any road bike. I won't be doing Ironman anytime soon for i do not want to embarass myself by not finishing (moreover, it's expensive race). I won't be able to find the time to do long rides like some of my buddies does. I'll do what i can, in my own capacities. My quest to be a triathelte (now wannabe saja) will continue.

Watch this space, for life, has just started!

Friday, August 11, 2006

Friday's Musing

I didn't know yesterday's Explorace episode was such funny episode to watch. I mean, looking back, i could actually laugh at everything that TV3 made all the participants do.

The final 3 teams are already at location somewhere in the middle of the world (not middle earth la ok, there is no battle to fight there). I supposed they will be slogging it out in a foreign land tomorrow. There will be a lot of head shaking while talking kinda thingy la, if you get what i meant.

Also, yesterday's episode showed everyone where the semifinal destination was.

Me and Azly's guesses were right even before the round started. It was in Thailand(duh...i was there what!), Indonesia and Indo-China.

Should be fun to watch the semifinal races!!! The official website has pictures of what happened in Bangkok.

stupe angry face
"i tried really hard to stop myself from killing the taxi driver", Stupe tells Bandit.

On the same musing breathe, I skipped runing 10km two days ago. But i did it at 3pm yesterday! Boss wasn't around, so, i snaked my way to do my 10km. The gym was deserted! I did some leg extension and calf raises right after my run. Bukit Gasing Challenge should be fun this weekend, i hope.

Also, there were a report last 2 days about a minister saying and telling the "urban chinese to raise the national flag" as the urban chinese are falling behind the rural chinese when it comes to this practise.



Now, since when i became unpatriotic by not raising the Malaysian Flag? Didn't he know that draping the national flag on a car is a no-no? As much as it's a no-no to drape the flag over a naked model? There were specific guideline to fly a flag. Anything less than that are considered a flag desecration. Where's the etiquette?

It makes me wonder if this is some sort of money making opportunities where flag manufacturer will tender for the rights to provide the government with flags to be...err...distributed to urban chinese like me?

Every national day, i see cars with mini flags stuck to the screen and top of the car. Some mini flags flew off the plastic pole and ended up being rolled over by cars and traffics.

Every national day, i also see cars with flags draped over the car bonnet, supposedly to tell Malaysian that they are patriotic.

To me, that are plain bullshit. Read the bloody etiquette i googled here, here and here!

Then there were a play about Hang Tuah and Hang Jebat and who actually killed Jebat. Now what i read in Sejarah back in school are kinda shaken. You meant they didn't fight for 3 days and 3 nights before Jebat was killed by Tuah? where can?

Some forum even say that all the Hang's are chinese! Now, can anyone say King Arthur and his Oval table are real? They are mythical at best. So, what if they(the Hang Clans) are chinese?

Does that make Malaysia a part of China? I do not think so certainly.

Does that give the Malaysian Chinese an inherent right of sovereignty over the land that is Malaysia?

Why do Malaysian Chinese want to make such claims?

it is all about arrogance and ego!!!

If Chinese are so called righteous people, then, why not instead, admit that Hang Tuah has a role in welcoming the Chinese to Malacca?

And to the chinese, prove that you are worthy of Tuah's welcome, worthy of living in the land of your birth, but not your roots!

Everyone has their own agenda when they want to dispute these things. Why make it a racial issue, especially when Merdeka Day and Hari Malaysia are around the corner? We hear this year in year out...much alike the Haze that come visiting once a year, thanks to our friendly neighour!

Infact, place Tuah as worthy as Kuan Kong and Kuan Yin at the ancestral worhshipping altar as i believe Tuah has all the qualities much like both these two chinese deities! (fyi, my parent's home has both of these deities, they represent courage, righteousness, compassion and forgiveness).


Guan Gong, Peace be upon Him


Guan Yin, Goddess of Mercy

I then chance upon this blog when i was searching for Tuah's story...check out the europeanised version of Hang Tuah, a prefectly welcomed satire when everyone is so penned up about racial sentiment.

On anohter note, my search to understand the background of Chinese Deities has actually brought me searching for them online. No better place than Wikipedia, really.

Check out these links:

Malaysian Chinese Deities
The Eight Immortals
Romance of the Three Kingdom

OKla, enough musing for today. It's weekend, almost.

Extra! Extra!
After gym yesterday, i found out a 3 series double parked infront of my car, making me unable to leave the parking lot and go on with my life. I noticed there were a phone number stuck to the screen, but i refused to call the number.

And so, i did the next best thing. I hit the horn. The first 10 seconds of honking, 3 person, which also double parked their cars came out to see if it was their car blocking.

The 10 seconds went on to 1 minute. And only after 3 minutes of honking (i kept count), the driver came out.

"Why never call the number?", she lambasted me.

"What if i don't have a phone?", i answered.

"This never happened before to me", she said, getting into her car.

Well, a sorry would be appropriate lady.

You double park your dumbass big car, but obviously your ego is too big for you to even say sorry for causing other's inconviniences.

It's an offence to double park, by the way, be it you placed your phone number or not!

Thursday, August 03, 2006

Explorace Season 3: Kelantan

It's On tonight at 9.30pm on TV3. Don't miss it, the final 1st round race of the season!

Excerpt from TV3 Website

Old traditions and culture still live on in Kelantan, and all girl contestants Masitah & Misbah and Yuhana & Irene definitely experienced it here!

After flag off in the bustling Pasar Besar Siti Khadijah, Masitah and Irene ran off to face Route 1 while Misbah and Yuhana took on Route 2.

Masitah and Irene’s first task was to perform the traditional Dikir Barat at Istana Jahar so they can move on to their very creative task waiting for them at Ishak Batik. Both girls had to learn how to stamp batik using the Explorace batik stamp and complete the whole process of producing batik successfully… Their finished products were very eye catching! The task at Nespure bird’s nest was very slow, time consuming and strained both of their eyes… some of those bit’s of feathers are really small!

On Route 2, Misbah and Yuhana first experienced the traditional skills needed to play the Gasing at Pantai Irama Bachok. It was very obvious both had not done this before! Misbah could barely tie the rope and Yuhana’s gasing spun really slowly… At Kampung Pachakkan, both managed their tasks of pushing boat and categorizing fish well, but the heat from the scorching was torturing. This heat continued to affect Yuhana’s performace while she was catching lokan. She had to return to the water 3 times!

The meeting point was at the Pusat Imigresen Pengkalan Kubur. Masitah and Misbah managed to meet there first and left for their next task at Kampung Ketil. Yuhana and Irene were trailing behind as both teams struggled with the heavy loads of processing budu.

The heat was not abating as the teams approached their final task at Infogaleri Sungai Golok Tengku Anis, and both teams were really suffering because of it… but one team does make it to the finishing point first…


To find out, don’t miss the Kelantan Race of Explorace – The Extreme Journey on Season 3, on air Friday, 4th August 2006, 9.00 pm exclusively on TV3.

Monday, July 31, 2006

How does it felt like...

Explorace Johor Came and went, both the race and the TV show.

On the night of the airing, the turn up for from fellow Exploracer was awesome. Maybe because they wanted to see the cili padi eating competition.

Smses kept coming in and phone did not stop ringing.

Yes, i felt like some pseudo-celeb. :) What a whore!

The LnE gang actually stopped while cycling at a mamak stall in putrajaya to see me and Azly racing. So sweet.

Vicky and her merry band of friends made me feel as if i'm some Akademi Fantasia winner.

Soon called me Stupe-perstar.

Zailan kept cam whoring with me!(get well soon bro).

Client called me to pass their compliments and jested about me being a good dancer.

Family laughed at me and with me.

Online forum friends now know me by name and face.

Pipot's gang like Mary, Aini and Zailan was asking me about the race. Mary was interested in joining next year's Explorace.

"Go Ahead!" I told her.

No, i'm not a superstar and never will be. But, yes, i'm enjoying the attention, while it last. LOL. I still got my feet planted solidly on the ground.

So, to all that saw that episode and was there in spirit and in person, i thank you all very much.

Now, wait until the day i get free chicken rice from that uncle that say he say me on TV... ;-)

By the way, this morning, as i was lying in bed, i placed my hand on wifey's tummy. For the first time in my whole entire life, i felt Stupe Jr. doing some kickboxing in wifey's womb.

It was awesome, i swore i could cry if not because my calves were aching worse than yesterday.

He didn't kick/punch once, but he did it so many times i felt so...so...

i'm lost for words, really.

Don't worry Jr, you will be a triathlete/adventure racer/duathlete that your dad and mum isn't!

(how's that for pressuring him even before coming out to greet the world?)

Thursday, July 27, 2006

my 5 minutes of fame this morning...

Appeared in MHI this morning for a good 10 minutes with James for Explorace Johor.

:)

It was a lil unnerving actually to be sitting there and knowing that the show is LIVE.

I now know how exactly the previous 8 teams felt when they were sitting there from 7.45am till 8am.

here it is, live to you, recorded by wifey which was forced to wake up early to see and record it for me.

:)

interview starts....

ps - i just realised i showed my middle finger on national TV!!!


phone ran out of memory....

Don't forget to see it tonite on TV3 at 9.30pm!!!

by the way..the Lulian yesterday was Good. Could had been better if the two larger ones has more kick. The 3 smaller one saved the day!

Desparil, this is for you bro!

Treat Me Nice : Elvis A. Presley



When I walk through that door
Baby be polite
You're gonna make me sore
If you don't greet me right
Don't you ever kiss me once, kiss me twice
Treat me nice

I know that you've been told
It's not fair to tease
So if you come on cold
I'm really gonna freeze
If you don't want me to be cold as ice
Treat me nice

Make me feel at home
If you really care
Scratch my back and run your pretty
Fingers through my hair

You know I'll be your slave
If you ask me to
But if you don't behave
I'll walk right out on you
If you want my love then take my advice
Treat me nice

Make me feel at home
If you really care
Scratch my back and run your pretty
Fingers through my hair

You know I'll be your slave
If you ask me to
But if you don't behave
I'll walk right out on you
If you want my love then take my advice
Treat me nice

If you really want my love then treat me nice

Explorace Episode 6: Johor!

The time has come. I'll be on National TV racing with Azly against David and James.

:)

Don't forget to see it tonight at 9.30pm on TV3!!!

johor

Excerpt from Explorace Website

Kota Tinggi, Johor with it’s lush greenery that went on for as far as the eye could see looked very relaxing…. But contestants Azly & Ee Van and David and James could not relax on this Explorace!

After Sasha blew the horn at Padang Bukit Kerajaan, Azly and James took off to face the challenges of Route 1 while Ee Van and David took Route 2.

Azly and James arrived at their first task point at Doana Frozen Food at the same time… but luck was definitely on Azly’s side for this task… after only eating 3 super spicy hot curry puffs, he found the Explorace tag, enabling him to move on… but poor James suffered as he ate 18 of these ‘lethal’ curry puffs and found the tag in the 19th! They both had to learn how to ride a horse very quickly as that was how they arrived at their next task in the palm oil plantation. Two very verbal mak ciks showed them how to make make ‘penyapu lidi’ before moving on to the Youee Plaster Factory. Let’s just say they didn’t complete their task very elegantly here!

Because of their first task Route 2, Ee Van and David will now forever appreciate every crab they are served on a dining table. Ee Van expecially was at the mercy of the crabs painful pinchers they had to catch and tie up at Sedili Besar… David seemed to have done it before… hmmm…. Arriving at the Desaru Golf and Country Resort their golfing skills were tested. David better not have dreams of becoming a golfer! Next, it was off to Pulai Resort. So fun on the beach for them here! Never has a human felt so heavy to them as they did at this task!!!

The meeting point task at Kampung Semenchu really showed everyone that James can move well!! The task? To perform the tradition dance of the Zapin complete with costume! It was a fun experience for everyone involved..

All four contestants were becoming very weary from the very physical tasks they had faced throughout the day… Which team manages to over take the other at the Desaru Fruit Farm to then arrive at the finishing point first?


johor dance
I really can't dance!!!

Thursday, July 20, 2006

Advice, Work, Magazine, Biceps etc etc etc

Must be one of my most incoherent posting to date. Never have i attempted to write about so many different subject in one sitting. Maybe the weekend is here, that is why. So, after a week fo emo ranting and the usual incoherent ramblings, here is the cream of the crop, i would say...in my years (wah, sounded as if like veteran) of blogging.

Anyway, i've been rahter busy the past couple of days, with a lot of issues to be resolved at work and at home.

K Ruby yesterday wrote about "it's all my fault". True, everyone grow at their own rate and to admit one's mistake actually will take more courage than to do the mistake itself.

Which brings me to anohter subject when we did something wrong.

We Worry.


As long as you are not the insect that will be the small spider's meal...be happy!

One wise man told me before not to be worried about anything in this world. His explaination was simple.

"There are only two things in life a lot of people worry about; things you can change, and things you can't change. For things you can change, why worry? just go change it. For things you can't change, well, why worry again? you can't change them, so, let it be."

I've always been living within that rule. (well apart from a lot of other rules in life, that is. One more favourite rule is" to take a day at a time", but that is anohter post anohter time)

So, advices aplenty, from the day i found out that me and wifey will be parents in 3 trimester to now approaching the end of the second trimester. Advices from people older on how to do things, on how to so called "just listen and never question as thy are wiser" or "don't say anything as you haven't eat as much salt as i did".

Which, then, i recalled, my beloved English Teacher back in RMC, Ms. Goh Hai Bee (she's since left RMc and teaching elsewhere) that told me, amongst her last words to me before i left the institution that "you won't live long enough to learn all the mistakes by yourself, so learn from others' mistake; and laugh at them"

Yes ma'am. Totally understand that. Yes, i've laughed at them. I've laughed at myself.

Coincidently, a family member, make that two, doesn't seems to learn from their own mistakes. I shudder and shiver to think what will happen in years to come. Then again, i do not come from a family that express our love openly.

My mum has a very strange way of telling us that she love us. On a good day, she force feed us. I recall me and my sis being asked to finish our 3 slices of bread filled with Planta about half an inch thick in between the slices before we are allowed to go onto the school bus. The bus uncle (That blasted One Night In Bangkok and obnoxious 80's d-i-s-c-o songs like Superman-man-man and Sexy Music) will cooperate with my mum and wait until we finish before picking us up. So, you get the uncle on one hand shouting for us to finish fast, and our mum which tell us at 6.15am in the morning to finish it or "deal with me" later...

On a bad day, she show us her love by giving us her killer stare and saying "Just you wait until we get home".


and i'll feed you to the monitor lizard in Sungai Melaka...

Nah, neither me or my sis turned out to be abusive because of this. We actually laugh at this now and mum wasn't please...

Nowadays, she just show her love by making sure i get more fish/meat/fruits me and wife could eat for a week whenever we go back to have dinner with her, and occasionally giving me her cold stare when i got involved too much in my weekend races. She claimed it will effect my fertility, sitting too much on those narrow butt cracking seats. But i guess, with 18 more weeks to go before Stupe Junior comes out, i finally gotten the "aye" from her to do all these crazy stuff.

My dad on the other hand, remain as patience of a man he ever been. The Stroke that striked him 2 years back didn't broke any of his spirit to live life. Perhaps, a lil too much at time. With a failed business venture that got us all into big trouble (and selling of the home i grew up in), now, he is like wanting to venture into middle east with some scrupious looking/feeling business deal with people that we do not know of.

Thank goodness what he wanted to be in was my area of specialities. (no, i'm not talking about talking incoherently). I advised him, but again, not sure how he will accept my advice.

Some people just don't learn.

Then, issues at work. An associate company in JB has just been played out by their own workers. Someone resigned and set up his own company, taking away all the key personnel along with him and left the current owner pretty much paralysed with staffs. Why do people do that? Really. Where is the loyalty to someone that has been feeding you and given you equal oppurtunity to grow with them? I guess it's life. Everyone is simply too selfish. There is no righteousness anymore.

Anyway, the same can be said about people that "stab you in the back". I've encountered just too many of these. They don't hurt me anymore, they are more of an annoyance in the butt. But got to be careful with them, as unchecked, they will cause haemorroids to form.

So, basically, what boss and boss' friend told the boss in JB is to cut away the rotting part. It's better to lose a limb and be painful for a while than to let the rot eats up the good flesh inside and ended up having to amputate the whole body. Sad but true. Who isn't loyal, we cut. cut. cut.

DSC07446
Just like trees growing out of building, thou shalt remain loyal and strong to thee provider

Back to work issues.

What happen in JB is not of my concern.

DSC07448
do i looked like i care? Hey look...my hair is growing!!!

My concern lies within the scope of work at my yet-to-be-completed-but-should-be-completed-like-eons-ago job in Melaka. Easy as it sound as it only involve 2 pumping stations and 1 Sewage Treatment Plant. But some service provider has not been giving the proper supply, which incidently also caused some of the equipments supplied to malfunction. It's akin to be giving you 50sen and asking you to buy a pack of Maggi Mee, a can drink and Keep the Change (yes, it happen before, most RMC boys went through this strange peculiar request from seniors). Where can do???

DSC07453
This rancid blackish water is actually not sewage, but river/drain water from Melaka Town vicinity - any cleaner could be used as a state owned jacuzzi!!!

Anyway, most of the problem sorted at site yesterday. Here is some second hand view (first hand is me la!) of the pumping station. You could see what people throw into their houses' toilet!


the rattling sound is because one of the flanges are loose - need commando to enter this pool to tighten the nuts and bolts...


At the sewage treatment plant that i did

makes you wonder how i could still come back home and cook up these delicious looking meal eh?

DSC07438
French bean minus Zidane's headbutt - just a lot of chinese mushrooms and tonnes of garlic and salt for taste

I always felt i have a knack for cooking. Maybe it was inbuilt in me. Maybe i am afterall, my mum's son.

DSC07439
Cod fish, steamed with grated garlic, ginger and ..err...chinese mushrooms finished and added with dash of sesame oil

And so, i went to Tesco (some say it's owned by Jews, but what do i care???) which occasionally priced things wrongly, to get some Rendang, as wifey wanted to eat it. And so, it was one of the most expensive rendang i ever bought. It smelled so good and you could see the meat all mashed up...

DSC07440
RM12 for 300grams, that's almost daylight robbery. No one told me not to buy though...

I know, the last pic looked like something fresh out from the sewage tank. Trust me, it's not. If Singapore could drink their own recycled sewage water, i believe we, as Malaysia Boleh, one day, will be able to eat rendang fresh out from these plants as well. Then, IWK will be making millions and we don't need to pay our sewage fees anymore.

As i was gonna cook the rice, i noticed, much to my annoyance, there were actually worms in the rice. But i know they are harmless. Nothing a quick wash can't get rid of. I was infact smilling when i saw them. It reminded me of RMC, again. We've all eaten worms in rice, yes, fat succulent worms in the rice. We didn't care less back then, i don't see why i should now. But of course, Wifey doesn't know this ok! Thank God i'm the one cooking at home! LOL!!!!

DSC07445
well, eating worms are still safer than sticking your fingers onto those live wires anyday...

Also, yesterday, i was told by one fellow blogger(which i can't name to protect her privacy...) in Livejournal that i'm in this month's Galaxie magazine.

DSC07456
She's not dumb, if she is, she won't be making more money with what she's doing...and don't tell me you've not watch an episode of SIMPLE LIFE!!

I found myself scrambling to the nearest bookstore to look for the magazine. I didn't know that this magazine sells out so fast. I managed to get the last copy at the local mamak store. Sms-ed Azly to get his and he ran to MPH in Bangsar to try to get one but nada...and found one in 7-11 across the street.

There wasn't any article mentioning us specifically...but there it was...me and Bandit, looking great in our yellow Makro RM19.90 cycling jersey cycling on the tandem bike.

DSC07454
The Jokers got more mention in the magazine. Damn.

I know, we looked good in the magazine. Don't need to tell us the obvious.

Also, it also suddenly strike me that i remembered during the race, i had trouble putting on those elbow guard. Well, for one, I do not use elbow guard while i cycle. Neither do i use knee guard. But we had to put it on for safety.

That is why, you will see me and azly, looking funny with the guard on our forearms in the show next week. (now, remember, it's on the 27th July at 9.30pm on TV3)

DSC07455
Me elbow is at me forearms...hear me roar...

This Explorace thingy has sorta make me looked like some chap out to get publicity and glamour. In anohter word, wanting to be celebrity. But me and bandit agree that this will be once in a lifetime chance to appear on national TV and show them we looked good. Well, we tried.

Of course, unless some TV producers or directors see me or him, and we have some high potential to be the next superstar like Paris Hilton...maybe a Malaysian version of Simple Life, aptly called...err...Hidup Senang? Then...that would be different, no?

Then set us out into kampung area like some dumb himbo on a road trip...hehe..sure will bring out the adventure spirit in us...and parangs from the locals.

The last bid is dedicated to both Anna, Ninie and Jaja. Three girls with biceps bigger than most guys i know.

And also, this was the reason why the elbow guard can't fit into my elbow...

DSC07461
blardy puny 15.5inch...i was 17 inch once!

Oh, i can't resist this...

here you are, One Night in Bangkok by Murray Head!!!



The sing song lyric:

THE AMERICAN:

Scene from the music video
Bangkok, Oriental setting
And the city don't know what the city is getting
The creme de la creme of the chess world in a
Show with everything but Yul Brynner

Time flies -- doesn't seem a minute
Since the Tirolean spa had the chess boys in it
All change -- don't you know that when you
Play at this level there's no ordinary venue

It's Iceland -- or the Philippines -- or Hastings -- or --
or this place!

COMPANY:

One night in Bangkok and the world's your oyster
The bars are temples but the pearls ain't free
You'll find a god in every golden cloister
And if you're lucky then the god's a she
I can feel an angel sliding up to me

THE AMERICAN:

One town's very like another
When your head's down over your pieces, brother

COMPANY:

It's a drag, it's a bore, it's really such a pity
To be looking at the board, not looking at the city

THE AMERICAN:

I get my kicks above the waistline, sunshine
Whaddya mean? Ya seen one crowded, polluted, stinking town --

COMPANY:

Tea, girls, warm, sweet
Some are set up in the Somerset Maugham suite

THE AMERICAN:

Get Thai'd! You're talking to a tourist
Whose every move's among the purest
I get my kicks above the waistline, sunshine

COMPANY:

One night in Bangkok makes a hard man humble
Not much between despair and ecstasy
One night in Bangkok and the tough guys tumble
Can't be too careful with your company
I can feel the devil walking next to me

THE AMERICAN:

Siam's gonna be the witness
To the ultimate test of cerebral fitness
This grips me more than would a
Muddy old river or reclining Buddha

Scene from the music video
And thank God I'm only watching the game -- controlling it --

I don't see you guys rating
The kind of mate I'm contemplating
I'd let you watch, I would invite you
But the queens we use would not excite you

So you better go back to your bars, your temples, your massage
parlours --

COMPANY:

One night in Bangkok and the world's your oyster
The bars are temples but the pearls ain't free
You'll find a god in every golden cloister
A little flesh, a little history
I can feel an angel sliding up to me

One night in Bangkok makes a hard man humble
Not much between despair and ecstasy
One night in Bangkok and the tough guys tumble
Can't be too careful with your company
I can feel the devil walking next to me

Explorace Episode 5: Taiping

it's the time of the week again... Don't forget to watch it tonight at 9.30pm on TV3!!!!

Excerpt from the official website:

Taiping, meaning town of everlasting peace provided Explorace with many exciting destinations to explore. Heritage and historic buildings, beautiful landscaping and friendly, smiling locals who were always more than happy to support the crew of Explorace. The fourth race of round one saw two teams very excited about experiencing their extreme journey of a lifetime. The two teams competing were Reezman & Azhari and Naresh & Guna. At the starting point in the Taiping Lake Gardens, the teams were nervous, excited and die hard determined to execute their best physical and mental performance ever! The Grand Prize of RM100,000 plus the Malaysia Airlines Golden Holiday Package was firmly engraved in their minds. After the horn was blown by Explorace’s host Sasha Bashir, the teams split up with Azhari and Naresh taking Route 1 and Reezman and Guna taking Route 2. After opening their first clue envelope, all of them realized that half of their clue was missing! Where was it?! A quick paddle boat ride to the middle of the Taiping Lake Gardens water fountain enabled them to collect the missing portion of their clue and proceed to take on the challenges waiting for them. This task gave all of them a wet start to Explorace Taiping!

On Route 1, Azhari and Naresh first went to Bukit Gantang where they experienced first hand what it was like to be involved in agricultural activities. Herding chickens for transportation proved to be unexpectedly difficult! They won’t forget this experience everytime they eat chicken now! The next task point on Route 2 was Tekah Airstrip. The task? A 10,000 feet tandem sky dive! AAAAARGH! For anyone afraid of heights, this task would have been extremely traumatic! Azhari and Naresh looked nervous and excited as they listened carefully to the instructors. Safety is a number one priority here on Explorace….. Final instruction were received from the sky diver the contestants were strapped to for their dive. Successful completion of the sky dive and refolding the parachute entitled the contestants to receive the Golden Key. They both put on a brave face and made themselves very proud when they accomplished this ambitious task. The certificate they received at the end will serve as a constant reminder of their escapade!

On Route 2, Reezman and Guna had to learn very quickly how to work on a palm oil plantation. It proved to be a very tiring task for both of them. Their next task point at the zoo tested their mental ability to memorise correctly the scientific names of various animals in the zoo. Reezman got every one right! To retrieve the Golden Box, they had to brave any fears they may have of reptiles because it was in the easily agitated Mangrove Snake’s cage. Reezman embraced the opportunity to enter a snake’s sanctuary, but Guna took a while to enter into the unknown.

The contestants met their respective partners at the Matang Mangrove Forest, recognized as the most well managed mangrove swamp in the world. After completing their task of planting seeds, they had to row a boat to a charcoal factory to perform various stages of the process of producing charcoal. It was a really hot, sweaty and burning task. The final dash to the ending point at the Taiping Golf and Country Resort really sucked any remaining energy out of the teams. The teams were struggling with crippling cramps and sunset was approaching and they had been on the move since sunrise. Hard feat for anyone….

Competition was tight from the very start. But only one team can walk away as winners. Was it Reezman and Azhari or Naresh and Guna?

Tuesday, July 11, 2006

Change of Schedule for Explorace Season 3

Hi all,

Please take note of the changes begining 20th July 2006.

Episode 1 - 4
Intro Episode - 23rd June
Race Labuan - 30th June
Race Penang - 7th July
Race Sibu - 14th July
Catch it on TV3, every Friday @ 9.00 p.m.

Episode 5 - 14
Race Taiping - 20th July
Race Johor - 27th July
Race Kelantan - 3rd August
Recap Episode 1 - 10th August
Race Bangkok - 17th August
Race Jakarta - 24th August
RaceCambodia - 31st August
Recap Episode 2 - 7th September
Final Race - International - 14th September
Final Race - Local - 21st September)
Catch it on TV3, every Thursday @ 9.30 p.m.

Bold and Italic races are where me and Azly will be shown on TV. It's our race.

Thursday, July 06, 2006

Explorace Episode 3 : Penang

Hi all!!!

Marzuki and Noreen will go against Alvin and Lesley tomorrow night in Penang!!!

Watch them in action! Tune in to TV3 at 9am tomorrow night and don't miss it!

Taken from Explorace Season 3 Website
The very colourful state of Penang provided many great task points for the second race of Round 1. Siblings Noreen & Marzuki challenged Leslie & Alvin on this race through a journey in which they had no idea what to expect.

The adventure got off to an energetic start after the horn was blown by Sasha at the starting point - Tanjong City Marina, the girls Noreen & Leslie took off on Route 1 and the boys Marzuki & Alvin rushed to conquer the tasks on Route 2.

After finding a passenger for their trishaw, the girls took a trip back in time at their first task point Fort Cornwallis. They experienced first hand what it was like to wear colonial costumes and load a cannon. The two horses which was part of their task gave everyone an unexpected shock…. They suddenly felt the urge to….ummmmm…. mate! An officer at the Fort was approached for help to help them complete their task despite the horses urges! On the way to the fantasy like Butterfly Farm, at Telok Bahang, Leslie proved that just because someone is fit, doesn’t mean they have good directional skills!!!!!!! At the butterfly farm, whatever fears the girls may have had of the insects, leeches and reptiles they had to face was stifled in a bid to out do each other in their tasks. After they retrieved the Golden Key being watched by a green snake, they were off to meet their partners at the meeting point….

The boys, Marzuki and Alvin jumped into their Explorace cars and drove of to their first task point at Pantai Batu Ferringhi. Forty five feet high colourful Chin Gay flags were waiting to be balanced by them! Following the demonstrations of the Chin Gay performers, Marzuki and Alvin balanced these spectacular flags on various parts of their bodies. Marzuki performed this task surprisingly well! After their next task at Kampung Sungai Burong, Balik Pulau I’m sure these boys will appreciate every bowl of rice they eat! Only after harvesting 5 kilos of padi using methods demonstrated by the locals were they allowed to locate the Golden Box…

At the meeting point at Jetty Bukit Tambun, the teams learnt to process and package cockles. This proved to be a very tedious task for both teams. A boat ride to nearby Pulau Aman then exposed them to how the buah sukun is plucked, the traditional way….!

Noreen and Marzuki showed very good sibling strength all the way on this race. But as it has always been seen on Explorace, the unexpected can happen!!! Who makes it to Sasha at the finishing point first?

To find out, don’t miss the Penang Race of Explorace – The Extreme Journey on Season 3, on air Friday, 7th July 2006, 9.00 pm exclusively on TV3.

Friday, June 30, 2006

Explorace Episode 2 : Labuan

Hi all!!!

Carmen and Lela will go against Jehan and Amalia tonight in Labuan.

Watch them in action! Tune in to TV3 at 9am tonight and don't miss it!

Taken from Explorace Season 3 Website
The first race of Explorace Season 3 saw all girls teams take a Malaysia Airlines flight to the Garden Island of Borneo, Labuan! The teams consisting of Amalia & Jehan and Lela & Carmen were so excited… but the journey was just beginning….

The race began at the Labuan clock tower. Both teams excitedly opened up their very first clue envelope to the start of their races. A helicopter, brought in especially for the race was hovering above to capture aerial views of this exciting new season! Aerial shots from 500 to 5000 feet high will be featured in this race… WOW!!!!

Route 1 was to be tackled by Lela and Jehan. The task at point one in Kampung Lubuk Temiang immediately got both of them very dirty as they chiseled away on tyres to collect oyster and their shells. The sharp edges of the shells cut their hands too, making it increasingly difficult to finish the task quickly. Next stop was the Labuan Market where they had to use hand skills again to make an ‘Explorace’ necklace. But, making it, was not enough to complete the task…. They then had to sell two of the necklaces, one to a man and one to a woman before they could move on with the Golden Box to the meeting point…

On Route 2, Carmen and Amalia’s first task was to clean apartments to a level accepted by Beta Serviced Apartments. This task was easy compared to their next task at the chimney! A mini chimney structure broken up into smaller pieces had to be reassembled first. Then, they had to be strapped in by Balai Bomba dan Penyelamat staff for a 106 foot abseil down the real tall chimney! Any fear of heights had to be suppressed cause their Golden Key was stuck to the wall of the chimney. They had to pull it off the wall during their abseil down.

All four had to endure pain that was mounting very quickly in their arms as they kayaked to the meeting point at Pulau Papan. The self prepared meal where they grilled fish and plucked coconuts provided them with valuable energy that they all needed to carry on their extreme journey.

Arriving at the water village Kampung Patau- Patau, the teams discovered that they had to use their arms strength yet again. First to row the sampan around the village to search for the house of the ketua kampung for their next task. Their arms were really beginning to feel like dead weight. Patience between Lela and Carmen started to wear very thin here, with shouting and arguing going on between them all through their task of catching fish at the water village. Irritable emotions were becoming very obvious!

Did Lela and Carmen manage to overcome their arguments and work together as a team again to make it to the finishing point first or did the more cool, calm and collected team of Amalia and Jehan beat them?

To find out, don’t miss the Labuan Race of Explorace – The Extreme Journey on Season 3, on air Friday, 30th June 2006, 9.00 pm exclusively on TV3.

Monday, June 26, 2006

Johor Explorace : Why You So Like Dat?

Taken from the official Explorace website (Thank you Mani for pointing out where to get the non GUI version)



I heard ppl are telling me i sang Why You So Like Dat on national TV...so, for those that don't know this song yet, here is the lyric...and MP3!

:)



Why You So Like Dat?

By the Wah Lau Gang

Why you so like dat ah?
Why you so like dat?
Why you so like dat ah?
Why you so like dat?

Oi!!

Why you so like dat ah?
Why you so like dat?
Why you so like dat ah?
Why you so like dat?

I let you copy all my sum,
coz you always blur,
but when i try to copy back,
you always call the sir!

Why you so like dat ah?
Why you so like dat?
Why you so like dat ah?
Why you so like dat?

I always give you chocolate,
i give you my tic tac,
but now you got the kit kat,
you never give me back.

Why you so like dat ah?
Why you so like dat?
Why you so like dat ah?
Why you so like dat?

You tell me that you don't like girl,
i also donno why,
but when you see a pretty girl,
your voice go up damn high.

Why you so like dat ah?
Why you so like dat?
Why you so like dat ah?
Why you so like dat?

You always talk in dialect,
i always ask you why,
you scold in hokkien very loud,
(your mather chow cibai) <----this one is my interpretation after years of listening to them!!!

Why you so like dat ah?
Why you so like dat?
Why you so like dat ah?
Why you so like dat?

Oi!!

Why you so like dat ah?
Why you so like dat?
Why you so like dat ah?
Why you so like dat?

Friday, June 23, 2006

Wednesday, June 14, 2006

Explorace website is UP!

Just got back from the press conference and the launch of the new Explorace Website.

:)

Click here for the website : Explorace Website (Duh~~~)

First episode will commence on the 23rd June 2006 at 9.00pm on TV3.

Don't miss it!

Will post details of races and their airing soonest!

Thursday, June 08, 2006

Round 2 Explorace Season 3 : Bangkok

Preamble
We reported at Sri Pentas at 5.00am on Saturday and we left TV3 by 6am. The ride to KLIA was uneventful, just anticipation of where we are going. Nevertheless, we all slept all the way to the airport.
Upon reaching, Nimni, our mummy for this league of race went to Counter E. All 4 of us, me, Azly, Reezman and Azahaari, ran to the screen to see where checking in at Counter E will bring us.
Fuh, giler... London, Newark and Stockholm!, exclaimed Azahaari.
Everyone shrieked with delight. Who won't?
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There is always gold at the end of the rainbow

come, where is Counter C??, Nimni said as we lifted our bag onto the Counter E's conveyor for check in........
There were frustration that we aren't going West. I know, that's pathetic. Hahaha...
We rushed to the screen again and Counter C will bring us to Bangkok, Surabaya and Chengdu.
I know that China and Surabaya is totally out of the question and that leave us with Bangkok.
We were given the ticket by Nimni and Azly started laughing out loud. He will be in Bangkok again for a holiday with his family after the race!
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Excited, as non of us went to Bangkok before. And we foresee the race will be fun and unpredictable.
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Azahaari digging his ears in sleep
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Amat sleeping...
Bangkok, here we come
We left Bangkok at 10.55am and reached Bangkok by 12pm. As Bangkok is an hour behind KL, we gained an hour flying up north. We were then ushered into a bus that will bring us to the hotel where we are going to stay for the rest of the trip here.
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We went for our first Thai food, as all the participants were reluctant to try any spicy food, non of us had any tom yum. We had fried rice with exception of azly that had stew tongue rice. Nothing to shout about and all of us agree that we will eat all the tom and yum after the race. We were then brought to our hotel, the Royal Suite Apartment.
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The Hotel
Royal Suite Serviced(sic) Apartment. The sign said. We know it's grammatically wrong. Anyway, we were assigned rooms in another building. It was raining heavily and we all know those were showers of blessings. We all just walked over to the next block and found our names on the notice board!!!
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We were given room 4006. This place is Brand New!
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The room comes complete with a complete kitchen enough to cook more Thai food than anywhere else (well, if we could cook Thai that is) and every room has a 34 inch TV with 5.1 sound system plus a dvd-r player that could also play digital tape....
I wasn't feeling too good later in the afternoon and was down with food poisoning, popping in 4 charcoal pills, going to the toilet and feeling nauseated, i skipped dinner completely to let the tummy rest. I had a cut of guava to fill my stomach.
Not having any mood to eat, i just rested...
Also, the room made quarantine so much more enjoyable!
You see, the participants can't leave the room on the eve of the race, for fear we might get kidnapped by the local katoeys and sent for operation to join their sisterhood.
Seriously, it was more of a fair-fair thingy for both teams, if both were given the oppurtunities to go looking, then it won't be fair, then it won't be any fun racing, right?
Wrong. Fast forward to race day.... read on, the journey begins.
Starting Point : WatArun
Wat Arun, which is situated along Chao Phraya was our starting point of this round 2. We were brought to this temple by 6am for the race to start at 7am. Sasha, technical and production crews, producers, press, Thai liaison officers, Thai helpers and basically a total of almost 100 crews were roped into this race.
By far, this is the largest and most stressful for the production team in all 3 season because of red tapes, language and uncooperative locals which changed their mind about their place being used for the race.(of course, these details we only know after the race...)
And so, sharp at 7am, we were again, called in by Sasha and was reintroduced to the camera. My race director this time around is Kerk and my cameraman, the most experienced cameraman, Jebat.
We were given the clue and the airhorn blasted.
And the way we go...
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My first task was to look for Wat Po Pier, which was actually right next to Wat Arun. Not very hard, but i did find myself jumping over waist high hedges as i took the wrong route. At this point of the race, me and Reezman was next to each other but he reached the jetty first. It cost 3Bath for the ferry. We were both given 2 pieces of 500Bath each. Reezman was luckily as he was the first one and there was enough change for 500bath. I wasn't so lucky and found myself scrambling around to break the cash. I managed to get that done and dashed to the ferry. Yeap, like round 1, it's back to square one again as i stepped onto the ferry.
Fooling about and around with Reezman, which our next task is to take this ferry to Tha Tien Pier and get onto the Tuk Tuk to Pak Klong Talad flower market.
Both of us were neck to neck and we had to stop 2 tuktuk each, one for ourselves and one more for my race director and cameraman. Getting one is easy, getting two, and explaining to them to wait for a second one was tough. I remembered to haggle for the price, which was 30bath each tuk tuk.
It didn't take me long to get that done and i did shouted to Reezman's tuk tuk to go with shouts of Mai! Mai! (mai is no in Thai). Sabo. Hahahaha... but that was for TV... you all know i'm not that evil, ain't it?
We took the tuk tuk to Sum Nak Pra Rajawang,or in plain English, in front of the police station.
We were given a pic and we are supposed to locate/find Pida.
I hop from shop to shop and showed the pic and asked where is Pida. No one seems to know who is Pida. Those that claimed they know... well, lets just say that they don't understand that i told them i can't speak Thai... and i get them giving direction in, what else, Thai.
thum kap Khap Khun(thank you) all the way and sawadee kap all along... with Cai(yes) and Mai(no) inserted here and there... talk about communication breakdown.... hahahahhaha...
Reezman wasn't fairing any better but he did reached Pida before me. He was given his question and he got his wrong... i was given my question
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Without hesitation, i answered Air Terjun Kota Tinggi
Well obviously the answer is wrong. Hahahahahaha...
then i was given the penalty task
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I had to fold 20 buds of lotus flower perfectly before i could do the next task.
Pida showed me once how to do it. This is my first time holding a lotus bulb, lotus root I've eaten a lot, lotus seed is almost everywhere in Chinese medicine halls, but lotus buds??? (how it looked like? Look at clue 1, the buds behind Pida belongs to the lotus!!!)
So, i paid attention to the whole process and devised something that i will remember. So, it's the folding the petal out, in and out IE 3 folds. Repeat this for all the petals on the lotus bud and present it to Pida for her to decide if it's perfectly folded.
I had some problem initially, but not as much as Reezman, which had 5 out of 10 initial buds rejected. I had none.
I spoke to Pida through a translator and was told that a bunch of lotus flowers were sold for 30bath unfolded. It will be used by the buyer for religious ceremony.
By the time reached my 19th buds, Reezman's basket of rejected and passed folded lotus were of the same amount. I completed the folding with ease and in advance. I took the time to joke and to pass sarcastic remarks (again, this is for TV y'all!!!)...
And so, the next task is to push the coconuts in the cart, which was easily close to 100kg to uncle sangaim. I let Reezman lead the way as i was actually tired because i didn't have anything since the night before. The cart were hard to manourve and it washeavy. Feeling a bit small, but i know it's not worth risking overtaking him, what's better to let him find uncle sangaim. We reached uncle sangaim the same time and our task next was to peel 10 coconuts with the correct technique.
Not so much of peel, but, if any of you go to those supermarket which sell fresh young coconut which we aptly call kelapa botak, yes, it looked something like that.
To save everyone a trip to the supermarket, here it is, a fine sample of how not to cut the coconuts....
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Not the way to do it bro!!!
The coconut above were given to the crew to be brought back after we complete our task... we need to ensure the coconut are cut in perfect cylindrical shape with the top portion in perfect cone shape. Well, apparently, i did it so well (and faster than Reezman), they decided to keep what i cut to sell... and gave what Reezman cut to be brought back FOC.. hahahahahaha...
By the way, i asked Uncle and he say it cost 20bath per coconut.
So, i was in the lead as Uncle Sangaim gave me the next clue
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I ran back to the police station as per instructed and hop into the explorace taxi. I chose the taxi wit the number 2658, taking it because it has the number 8 behind it. Typical Chinese... hahahaha...
My next destination is to Ayutthaya, the ancient capital of Thailand. It is a good 80km away from Bangkok itself. Our journey took us almost 1hour 30 minutes plus jam on the Bangkok highway itself too... unbelievable.
I called Azly and was told he was trailing Azahaari by 30 minutes as his first task was very physical, he had to run up the Wat Arun's pagoda for his next clue... and i was told that you must ascend the pagoda in clockwise fashion... so, it's up one level,run around the level in clockwise manner, then go up the stairs (which were knee high) until you reach the top.... i told him not to worry as i'm in the lead.
10 minutes later, i tried calling him but to no avail. I found out from my race director that Azly capsized in one of the floating market canal. Completely drenched and phone malfunctioned. What luck!
I reached the hospital and i ran to Bang B, which is actually a shop name, i stopped and asked around and was again, spoken to in Thai... which was frustrating... very! After a good 500meter run and and seek, i found Bang B.
KhunAoun greeted me and as usual... it's me sawadee kar (for girl) in the most slutty way possible... She gave me my next clue
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A demonstration were given on how to cook roti saimai, which is essentially, popiah skin. Again, i'm dumbfounded... Drink coconut, YES... Eat Popiah... Yes... make popiah skin... NO!!!!! The lady showed me ow it's done, looked very technical.
So, there i am, sitting on a stool, with a 1 meter diameter hot flat pan at stool level, dough on my right and scraper on my left.
i'm supposed to dig my hand into the gooey flour mixture, pull some out and roll it in my right hand, then press it on the hot pan in circular motion, pull it off and let it cook before i scrape it off from the pan, hoping it will be perfect...
and i need to make 50 of those.
My first saimai failed miserably. Khun Aoun rejected any saimai which were too big (perfect size is about 25cm in diameter), not cook (the flour are gooey, had to flatten those overly press quickly or it won't cook nicely) and with holes (problem arise when you try to scrape it and end up making holes in them).
I managed to make up till 12 saimai when Reezman arrived. He again, had trouble getting it right, which was to my advantage. After my 30th saimai, i got tired, sweat was dripping onto the hot pan, sending sizzles while adding extra flavor to the bread. Khun Aoun was getting impatient and rejected almost everyone that i made... maybe Reezman was playing his charm by singing for her...
"sabai sabai, saya tarak cakap Thai", Reezman keep singing in offtune harmony which entertained most of us there... i can't deny i was entertained too. It took the stress out of competing.
I found myself handling the flour rather clumsily, getting chunks of flour on my trousers and shoes, while flinging some to Khun Aoun's hair, pants and blouse. ahaahaahhah
I lost focus but managed to complete 50 pieces perfectly and went on to roll sugar hair using the saimai. We had to make 10 and offer it to the public. Which we later had to ensure that they finish before we can get our next clue.
We clown around again, with me and Reezman hijacking each other's completed saimai, much to the amusement of everyone.
I ran across the street and offered to all passerby, the worse mistake i made was actually offering it to kids, which took ages to finish! Reezman was smarter (and more cunning) by offering to the people outside the shop itself! Can't say it's unfair if the race director lets him, right?
As my last saimai as chewed and swallowed, Reezman dash off with the next clue and i ran to the shop for my clue
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I ran back to the hospital and rushed the taxi driver to Wang Chang Ayutthaya. Along the way, i saw big elephant being ridden. and my guess were right...
Khun Tamaporn is a female baby elephant which handed me the next clue
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excitement as i caught up back with Reezman, which is just a minute ahead of me. We both proceed to the elephants' enclosure and in came 2 major big mammal...
Scary.
We weren't given any shampoo, but we have to give the big guy a rub down... now seeing elephant in the zoo and seeing them within arm's reach is awesome and scary.
Immediately, flashback of Animal Planet came to my head where a trainer was stepped, kicked and badly injured by an elephant... so, i was getting ready to roll into a ball, as that episode's tips to do so if encountered an elephant on rampage...
The elephant assigned to me keep moving closer to me every time i sprayed water on him, he came so close that i found myself being pushed to the railing. I found myself almost crouching every time...
his eyes were looking at me, and i keep talking to him in Bahasa, in English, in Chinese and in those lil Thai i know.
Then, i found out what was wrong. He is thirsty. His trunk keep trying to move closer to the hose i was holding, which explained why he keep moving closer to me...
And so, like a Man that had conquered the largest land animal... i felt in control... found the name of the elephant is Bhutan. So, from there on, it's Bhutan here and Bhutan there, it was hilarious as the mahmood, of elephant trainers taught me some Thai as well. Lim is drink... so, i did noticed every time i say lim to the elephant, he actually lifted his trunk higher than usual, tilting his head up, mouth wide open and sprayed water into his own mouth...
it was simply a-w-e-s-o-m-e!
Then after what seems like 15 minutes of bathing the elephant, making him crouch by pulling his ears, cleaning his eyes (yes, i was rubbing the mammal's weakest body part, the EYES!!!) The whole process was therapeutic!
But not as therapeutic as Reezman's elephant taking a dump while being bathed!
After that was done, i had to pull the elephant by his ear to the dressing area, which was 2 scaffolding high. So that's a good 8 feet or more!
Slowly, i climbed on to Bhutan's head, with my back facing the front (IE i'm completely facing the other way) and placed rugs after rugs as a buffer for Bhutan's back before the carriage was placed on his back...
Every time he moved, i freaked. Not gonna be a nice sight to fall 8 foot down...
After that was done, with the help from them mahmood tying the carriage down, i turned around, and sat on Bhutan's head.
Placing my legs behind his ears, i had to kick left if i want to go right and vice-versa, kick both side to go forward...
And there i am... being able to bathe, dress, and now, ride and elephant!!! COOL!
I had to go pick up two passengers and then i had to ride the elephant almost 700meters to Wat Phra Ram, where Khun Tai is waiting with my Golden Box!!! YAY!!!!
All the while, i was in the lead, with Reezman having slight problem with his uncooperative mammal. Perhaps mine was because i found out understand Mandarin! I assumed! The trainer spoke to me in broken mandarin and yes, he did indicate Bhutan knows... or so i think. Bhutan picked up speed and reach Khun Tai.
Using his strong trunk, he grabbed the box and pass it to me while i'm seated right on top on his head! It's empowering!!! I shouted with joy as i collected the Box!
Under the box was my next clue
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And so, my journey of 700meters back to the Elephant Palace ended as i let the passenger down. I bend over and gave Bhutan a kiss on his head and ran towards my waiting Taxi.
Next destination is to Suan Rodfai, where I'll meet Azly in front of the sports center office.
I called Azly and was told that he led Azahaari by 30minutes. He is now looking for the Golden Key.
2 minutes later, he called again in ecstasy and told me that he found the key within minutes of calling me. I told him i'm in the lead, with Reezman a close maximum of 10 minutes behind. Feeling rather confident that we are gonna wrap this race up soon, i relaxed a bit and it will be a 60km journey back to the meeting point.
And that was what went wrong.
My driver, Anant, took the wrong turn and headed the wrong way. Instead of bringing me back to Bangkok in 30 minutes flat, he brought me deep into Ayutthaya, making 3 U-turns before stopping one motorbike-taxi to bring us out of that place.
I lost all my lead. I was frustrated. I called Azly and bitched to him about it. It's heartbreaking. My cameraman and race director was devastated, they couldn't believe their luck, what more me?
The next 30 minutes of getting lost in Ayutthaya was heartbreaking and frustrating, everything i asked was replied by Anant with a resounding Yes.
I recalled asking if we were lost, he say YES.
I asked if he knows the way, he say YES.
It was downright frustrating.
When we finally entered the highway to Bangkok, i called Azly and he told me that Azahaari reached the meeting point already, a good 30 minutes behind him. I apologized profusely but he was cool about it. Nothing we could do. I was lost. I felt i disappointed him big time.
Then, he called again, while i was caught in the notorious traffic jam in Bangkok. My taxi was weaving left and right and total displacement was maybe 10 meters after 5 minutes of weaving here and there. I know i'm fucked.
Azly called to tell me that I'll need to shave after this as he and his family are coming to Bangkok for a holiday and he do not want to be bald.
It didn't struck me until i put the phone down where i told the camera of how relevant of someone going bald and going for a holiday.
I was frustrated. Anant was still on the phone, obviously do not know where sports center were!!!!
I called Azly again and was told that Reezman reached a couple of minutes ago while i'm still 8km away from meeting point (or so say Anant). Azahaari is getting his hair shaven for the next task. And so will I.
I reached Suan Rodfai, frustrated and angry, i vent out my anger by shouting and received our next task as a team.
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It sank into me. Wifey not gonna be happy with my new hairstyle. Out of anger, i screamed again, this time, Azahaari and Reezman was still within sight. But i was told they were 18 minutes ahead of us. I hope one of them will lose both the set so the time deficit could be reduced to 8 minutes, provided i win both the sets. I know i will, i'm desperate enough to ensure just that.
As Azahaari was getting his head shaven, i sat down quietly to calm myself down. We ran out of luck. Big time. But we are not giving up.
As the shaver went through my head, i felt a sense of enlightenment, perhaps this is all fated, that i get lost, and most probably cost us the race, then me having to shave bald, no point fighting fate. Just got to remain strong... and continue getting pissed with Anant.
By the way, the balding process wasn't going to involve the whole head. It's only the top... the side and back were left as it is. I looked like some man with male balding pattern and only having hair on the side and back. If i leave my side long enough, icould possibly go for a comb over hairstyle!!!
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And so, there i was, bald, ugly, fugly. I faced my opponents, Uncle Chumritt showed me how it's done in Thai. I got down on all four, in a 3meter by 3 meter arena. My opponent, which has a natural bald spot, was in his early 40's. Experienced opponent. Azly gave me a few pointer and asked me to treat it as if i'm in a scrum where i need to push my opponents.
Whistle went off, my bald head met with the uncle's bald head, pushing using the head ensued, i used all my might and won the first round easily.
For the second round, i was asked to prolong the fight... buat drama la kira.
And so, i did the drama, put up a good fight this time, giving the uncle hope but only giving him that much hope, and when i felt it's enough, i gave him a heave and pushed him out. I won.
Our opponents lost one and won one, which resulted in a draw. They are penalized for 5 minutes. Bringing the deficit to 13minutes.
We were left there for 13 minutes, before we were handed the next clue (Azly took that piece of clue).
We had to run to Chatuchak market, locate the Market Information Office and look for an officer for our next clue.
And so, there we went, hopping into the Explorace truck and brought to Chatuchak Market. We went around asking and looking for the office, which wasn't easy. This weekend market is at least 6 times as big as our central market area! Maybe bigger! With close to 30 sections of shops, each sections having hundreds of shops, each section having their own Spi(or Lane) which is very much like some residential area!
It took us 10 minutes to locate the Information Office, after being led to a wrong one by one of the local.
Once inside he correct office, we were told to open the golden box for our last clue.
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We look at the map and decided to go to get the bandana first, then the Thai cloth and lastly the rattles.
We found the bandana with ease. Section 25, Address 116, Soi 2/5.
We were told to wear it.
I was very very conscious as i'm now officially half bald, with a bandana, which was actually a piece of 1.5inch wide cloth with the word Bangkok stitched on it.
We then went for the Thai cloth at Section 11, Address 205, Soi 12/7.
The cloth were in 2 boxes, of which both were locked. We took one of the box and a ring of keys, totaling almost 50 on the big key ring. So, it's some sort of lottery case. I managed to open the box after 8 tries, but it was empty!
And we went looking for the second box in the shop, found it and i didn't get to open it until almost the very last key.
Frustrating!
Going ahead, we found the rattle at Section 8, Address 463, Soi 15/1.
We grabbed it and ran to the boat jetty at Chatuchak Park. We know we lost. There is no sight of the Joker Boys. Knowing that it's the end already, me and Azly decided to do some post mortem, letting the whole experience sink into us for one last time. It's sad, we lost, but we are glad it's not because of our own inability.
We found the jetty, read the clue one last time, and paddle down the waterway around Chatuchak Park.
We reached the Explorace marked tree and ran and at the same time, shaking the traditional rattle to announce our arrival.
We ran next to Sasha, gave her all the items we have collected and was asked how we felt.
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The Bandana, the Rattle and the missing thai silk which has to be returned...
Just like this morning, we said we are gonna get lost, well, that's what happened!, i said sadly.
Sasha announced the winner and that marked the end of our own Extreme Journey.
We were told we are only 5 minutes behind the boys.
I was close to tears, but i held back. I can't believe luck wasn't on my side this time around. I blame the taxi driver, but that, as far as i believe, is all fated. It's never written anywhere that me an Azly will be in the final, despite us, being the favourite to win in round 2.
Post note
After the race, and after exploring Lumpini Night Market in my semi baldness, me with the help from Azly and 2 pieces of new shaver, shaved the rest of the hair on my head off. And so now, i'm officially Bald.
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