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.


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.


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???


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?


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.


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...


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!!!!


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.


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.


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)


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...


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

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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?

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Inconsiderate neighbours

there is rubbish bin in the lift's lobby you know?

I don't get it.

why must you throw rubbish from your car onto other's parking lot? Why bother taking the toll's reciept if you have every intention to throw it?

This is not the first time. I've found condom box thrown ONTO my car as well.

But you did the biggest mistake by throwing your own brake pad that state what car you were driving....


I know who you are

Also, to the othe neighbour staying on the 11th Floor. Why must you water your plant in such a way that you induce thunderstorm of your own whenever you does that? the water overflowing your pots will be flushed down to units below you.

I just did my laundry the other day and i had to re-do it again! No thanks to you, you inconsiderate son/daughter of a no good gun!

This isn't the first time and i've shouted from below before and the water miracilously stop the last time i did that! Do it again and i'll pee onto your unit.

Sad case of neighbourly love, no?

Perhaps you, the Black Perdana V6 driver that overtook me from the left at THE ROUNDABOUT was rushing back to see your team lose in the world cup, but that is not a reason to endanger my life and my wife's life by whizzing past us only to get into the lift 3 seconds before us (and thank you for not waiting for us eventhough you know we were coming!). I sure wish the team you were supporting will lose all the football matches from now on...or maybe i wish you lose in this world cup so badly that you had to sell your pathetic Perdana V6 which has a sticker of a club which i know the president!

Or how about you, the joker that decided that one way is your way and you come entirely from a differnt direction almost colliding into me as you exit your parking spot?

Bad neighbours aren't only found in highrise living, but also landed property.

I remember once, back in my old home in Ulu Kelang, the neighbour threw his Tv antenna onto my roof(his house has an extension with a huge balcony same level as my house's roof) and then you report to police that we took your antenna. Who you kidding, i sure hope you don't terrorise your new neighbour now that my family moved out from that home i grew up in.

Or even how, in my in law's house, this neighbour reported to MBPJ that the in law family's volkswagen are blocking your fengshui by parking opposite your house in a common area??? Isn't coming over and telling us to remove the car politely will do? We can't possibly improve your fengshui any better since now, there is many other cars parked at where the Volks were.

Let this be my Emo rant.

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Over The Weekend and Eco-X revisited

Box to collect fund for Anti Smoking Campaign

Wifey was down with food poisoning on Wednesday and only recovered fully on Thursday.

Then it was my turn come Friday. And i was immobile until Sunday.

Not sure what causes it but i guess sharing a bottle of water when one is sick isn't a very good idea. The carer ended up being taken cared of. Now flustered and worried over the coming PD triathlon race, which i had no cardio training for the past 1 week except to walk/run to my car when the parking expire near the office (MBPJ are highly efficient here, late 5 minutes and you are slapped with a bad ass summon).

Anyway, went over to Nomad to return the North Face T-shirt and was told By Wye Yim and Pip that Ashley's team wrote about Eco-X and was published in the Star. Well done babes. I couldn't had written it any better.

Now, which brings me back to think, why didn't i send in the article in the first place to be published?

Anyway, here is a photo-capture of the article, the clearer nicer high resolution writting could be obtained online here or you better hope your mother at home didn't use last Saturday's paper to wrap the morning glory (Kangkung la!) that she bought from the market yesterday!


Saturday Star...Team Sweet Endorphin's write-ups


Page 2 of the article

I then received an SMS from Zabil that there was the article in the Star as per what Wye Yim said.

Gladly called up Budin, Doc and Bandit to inform them to get hold of Saturday's Star.

So, here it is, incase they didn't get to see it:


Budin on far left. Bandit smack in the middle, obviously the only one smiling for the camera...must be training from Explorace


Yuen Li helping some participant clearing a portion at the river. Her excuse to get down and dirty.


Doc (with back facing camera) and Ming hanging for dear life behind the 4Wd driven by Pip after they've decided they had enough for the day, Azmar was on the other side of the 4WD, hidden

The following pics were courtesy of Dr. Amir which came and accompany us pain seeker over the weekend.


much better, Ming and Azmar in sight..


Mark, Dilah and Terence waiting for their raft to arrive.


While Doc, Azmar and Ming sat down under the tree looking pretty


Well, doc are definately pretty...no doubt!


Karo, Zabil and Bean hiding under the tree for some free SPF protection


3B on the way to rafting - still had time to stop and pose by the road, we know, we are that good looking.


reached the CP for rafting...


waiting for raft at the river


overly bored, Steve decided to beach himself


3B finished the race....ahead of the last female team!!! (Team Sweet Endorphin) And we did not suffer any injuries or leech bites!


Handling over the passport to race official...


Chopped, sign and verified passport of the 3B - the only team in LnE that legally and rightfully finished the race, 3 Blind Mice was DQ because of their raft incident..sigh...


Dilah, Mark and Terence finishing the race unranked...Mark was unfortunate as he had cramps..all over


Am still pretty bald at that point of time...but nevertheless, still unshamefully whoring the cam

Sunday ended with a short trip to Bangsar's pasar malam where i met an old friend, Sharon Anne Paul, which are currently lecturing in the International College of Music. By the way, this lass wrote and arranged music pieces for eading local artistes including Dayang Nurfaizah, Amy Mastura, Siti Nurhaliza, Naufara and many others. She has composed music for television commercials and background music for movies and radio in the United States. She has also developed the "Frenetic" expansion card for Alesis QS Series Keyboard and DM Pro.

Saw her in the TV2 program O-Mulala and had clippings of her interview in my phone. LOL...

And so...here is the parting pic for today.


yes of course...Anti Smoking indeed...

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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.

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PD Triathlon Try Out session

Mr. Chan was kinda enough to organise a tri-fulldress rehearsal. Complete with drink station, bike rack and police escort.

If not because of the missing numbers on the participants, it could very well be the real day's race itself.

The was a good mix of sprinter and olympic distance try-atheletes and triatheletes (me obviously in the first category, still TRY-ing)

Me and Amir drove down to PD Admiral Marina and reached the place. It was raining in the morning and there was alreadya good crowd of racers, some regular faces, some new faces. I guessed they must had said the same thing about us anyway.

There were only like 2 mountainbike in sight until Steve came along with his mud laden MTB. Apparently they had a wild time thrashing in Teratak on Saturday, only to come out at 4pm. Heavy undergrowth and trail wasn't maintained, showed sign that more bikers are turning to the *dark side* (ie road bikes).

Anyway, Bacin, Adilah, Steve, Azmar, Amir, me and Azman was in PD for this Try-out. Adilah's first open sea swim, where she will attempt the 1.5km swim as per real day. Bacin and Faie were also attempting their first ever proper open sea swim. Both survived and did well.

And Adilah too, with 3 others LnE members accompanying her, she definately felt safe. Thank you Azmar, Amir and Steve!

i did a slow 35 minutes for my 1.5km swim. As per what i usually does in the swimming pool. Nothing to shout about as i couldn't do proper freestyle (unlike Mr. Chan which were swiming like fish to water).


Bacin being comforted by Faie that there is no Jellyfish in the water. Pic also show that anyone can try to be a triathlete

Then, it was cycling time. Frankly, i've not been running and cyclign as much as i should. No, i'm not giving excuse not to do my best in PD Tri, but, somehow, i think it's too late to even rectify the running and cycling. What to do, just taruk la on that day.


Bacin feeling very safe ON LAND, very much different from the pic above.


while Amir takes off his shorts for the cycling league...


Everyone listening with full attention to Mr. Chan, while Amir check Bacin's butt out.

The 40km cycling would be fun, rolling hills just like last year with some nice downhill which some roadie would use it to relax their quads; but not mountainbikers... my max speed for the day was 48km/h. I was happily cycling with Amir and Azmar when suddenly my front tyre had a punture.

damn it. It's at KM 14.5. Only anohter 5.5KM to go before completeling half the distance.

I did not have a spare tube, or pump, or tyre levers with me. Azmar lended me his pump and so, there goes a painfully slow 14.5km back to transition. Faie was with me, so i got some company.

My front tyre was leaking slowly as the km past by. I tried not putting too much weight on the front tyre and was ccyling almost upright at most of the time.


Girls, Dr. Amir is still single and very much available!


Faie accompanying Stupe on his front puntured tyre...thanks babe!

Suprisingly, the tyre held on pretty well and didn't fully went flat until i reached the transition. But poor Faie. She crashed 200meters from transition. Blame it on her Aerobars. She hit a manhole cover while on aerobar, got jittery and scraped her front whell on the sidewalk and crashed, unable to unclip fast enough from her SPDs. I could only watch helplessly and stopped to pick her up. Her left knee and thigh were bruised, but she held on well...

"Battle scar", she jested. What a strong babe!

Upon reaching transition, i noticed my rear tyre too had a punture! what luck! better go Uncle Ong to get it fix at a bargain before the race in less than 2 weeks time.

The run was painful. I only did a 3km run. Stopped at the first water station at km1.5 and turned back with Azmar, Azman and Amir. Apparently, Ajeep and Bacin too, turned back after the water station. Perhaps all so called listened to Mr. Chan that we are supposed to ONLY do our 80% today. LOL. Excuses!

Anyway, enjoy the rest of the pictures, courtesy of KC, the Sunshine Runner.

KC's picture spread

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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.

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Happy Birthday Songx!!!

Dearest Songx,

Happy birthday...many more years to go before the big 4-0. SO...enjoy!!!

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Nostalgically Yours

No thanks to K Ruby for posting something that got to do with the past (no, i'm not implying you are old Ma'am!) and her comments on Casablanca...i suddenly had "As Time Goes By" playing in my head.

For all you young cikus out there, The original version was sang by Dooley Wilson, which was acting as Sam in the movie Casablanca

The movie version was sang byFrank Blue Eye Sinatra.

So, here we are...nostalgically yours, with one of the most famous Love Story in the past.

The Full version


The Dooley Wilson aka Sam version


And of course, the lyric.

You must remember this
A kiss is still a kiss
A sigh is still (just) a sigh
The fundamental things apply
As time goes by

And when two lovers woo
They still say: "I love you"
On that you can rely
No matter what the future brings
As time goes by

Moonlight and love songs - never out of date
Hearts full of passion - jealousy and hate
Woman needs man - and man must have his mate
That no one can deny

It's still the same old story
A fight for love and glory
A case of do or die
The world will always welcome lovers
As time goes by

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Kotex 3R Kem Konfiden

Got back from a weekend of fun with Nomad Crews, Red Communication ppl and 12 participants from age 18 till 22.

I was there to help Nomad out with setting up/marshalling a race that the girls will do to conclude their camp.

On hand to help was me, Songx and wife. All season campaigner of "pain is pleasure", Boss from Nomad welcomed us to help out. Only 4 Nomad babes were at hand to handle the whole 5 days 4 nights camp at Gopeng Nature Park area/ Sg. Itek. Yuen Li, Pip, Michelle and Jules.

The base camp for this was at Adeline's Place at Sg Itek, next to the Nature Park. A good 30 minutes drive from the main road through quiet scenic kampung road.


The fake waterfall. The pipe broke when the concrete support collapsed and from the look of the pipe and vegetation growing on the pipe, it has been a long long time

We booked our self into 2 tents as all available chalets were already been taken up by the girls and crews.


Where are the babes???

When we reached, the girls just finished cycling out after a morning of abseiling down the waterfall at the end of the Nature Park. The water was definately more aggresive compared to the EcoX this year in Hulu Langat.

Then they adjourned themselves to Gunung Kandu, where the famed Gua Kandu that housed the then Communist in Gopeng used as their refuge.


believe it or not, this cave opening was oonce planned as the landing point for the communist helicopter, and that is way before Airwolf came on air!

We weren't allowed to be in the cave for some technical reasons that they were running late for time.

After that, it was dinner time before me and Songx adjourned to the broken pipe for some cool refreshing shower in the nature (no, we were not naked)

That same night, Dato' Sharifah, the lady who ski-sailed on ice to the south pole, was the designated speaker. The girls listen in awe as me and Songx went into the darkness to test see his Lumaray FL6 performance in the jungle darkness. His wife tagged along as she tested her mini torch(Fenix P1 Black) which i nicknamed *The Sun*.


The yellow beam was from SureFire while the White Beam were of Fenix. These are added on my birthday wishes. LOL. By the way, this pic was taken in total darkness with only the torch lighting up the cave full of bats.

Later that night, we were briefed by Pip, the race director about the surprise race for the girls on Sunday. It is a short race, encompassing all the skills the girls learnt over the past 4 days in Gopeng. Skill such as white water rafting, caving, abseiling and even cycling, which were new to some, will be put to the test. But of course, it won't be completed without a few mystery test.

So, we helped Nomad load up the gears into the vehicles. My small car was used to put in helmets and harnesses only, and it's already packed to the brim. LOL. Maybe putting a bigger car as my birthday wish would be more appropriate.

So, next morning, at 5.30am, we were all ready and woken up. A quick ultra cold shower had me refreshed and raring to go. In my car was me and Mrs. Songx, which will man the first mystery test area. The first mystery test would be of the girls remembering 20 items before they go into Gua Tempurung and then after they come out from the cave, to recall it back to Mrs. Songx.

The second mystery test would be aptly called the swamp where the girls, in team of 4, will have to cross this swamp of about 30meters long with only 4 legs touching the swamp, how they get over the other side is entirely up to them as long as only 4 legs are used. So, it's teamwork, teamwork teamwork! At the end of the swamp, each team will have to retrieve a number to be kept for the finishing line.

the last mystery test is right before the finishing line.


we had to wear these North Face's Flight Series Vapor Wick shirts as marshalls.


but these shoes are not on a *borrow on needed basis*. These are Inov8 FlyRoc 310 shoes.

I was detailed to go into Gua Tempurung with Pip and Yuen Li. Together with Angie of Red Comm where she will film the girl's reaction coming down from the big abseil in complete darkness.

Their race will start at 6.30am and the marshalls (that's us!) will have to go out and mark the trail with flour(pronounced as flower ok...lets speak proper engrand from now on right?).

The girls will cycle from Adeline's Place, taking a cool dark 20 minutes journey to Kem Murni where they will white water raft until the bridge at Kampung Sg. Chulek.

From there, it will be on foot to Gua Tempurung, a good 4km away where they will see Mrs. Songx for Mystery Test #1.

While the girl were flagged off, Yuen Li and Pip lead me and Angie to the second level of Gua Tempurung. it was a good 20 minutes climb up and down the stairs in Gua Tempurung, With Altitude gain of almost 100meters, we reached the abseil point. The cave was in total darkness, nothing much our LED and yelllow lights could muster to light up. Pip secured all 4 points of bolts in the cave wall and lowered a 90 meters Dynamic rope with a torchlight tied to the front. That is to make sure the rope will touch the landing point.

Then, Yuen, me and Angie went down 255 steps to the landing point, a good 50 meters below to make sure the rope reaches where it should.

Unfortunately it didn't, the ropes and torchlights landed on a small landing 30 meters above us. To make all of you appreciate the situation of this abseil. Imagine the starting point is between your eyes, where your nose starts. So, you will have to lower yoruself down the ridge of your nose and you will reach one big pimple (landing) before abseiling down from the tip of your nose to your chin (ground zero). Only difference is that the nose is not of any Asian Nose, but some angmoh's nose where the gradient are sharper and not so forgiving.

So, the rope and lights were on the landing (remember the pimple i mentioned above??) and guess who has the first privy to test the rope out and lower the rest of the rope? ME!

And there goes the journey up the 255 steps to 110meter again. Geared myself up, strapped in and with an assuring smile from Pip that the rope is anchored on 4 points....i lowered myself down the cold soft guano laced rock face...

Yeap, the rope and light were landed on the small landing. I then lowered the rest of the rope and the lights and then proceed to the overhang. Exciting as from there, it was a good 30 meters of slow abseiling as i was coming down with a top prusik (i now appreciate prusik setup on the leg loop better).


The lights are actually from the participant headlight at the small landing (pimple on nose)

Touched ground zero and it was a good 50 meters desent down.

I found what i first thought was a hole dugged up to act as a dumping hole for rubbish in the cave. Apaprently, the guide told me that it was a hole made so many suns ago when even gua Tempurung was a haven for Tin Miner. Yeap, this place still has tin in her and the state government has did all they could and prevented current Tin Miners from turning gua Tempurung into a tin mine. Such heritage should be kept and treasured!


a good 5 meters deep....

The first girls' team came in at about 8.30am, right on Yuen's schedule. Second team came in 30 minutes later and the final team reached a good 45 minutes after the first team checked in. Such are the competetive spirit of the girls.

The last participants cleared the abseiling rope by 11am. Most of them, this is a first big abseil, which will boost their own personal confidence.

After all 4 members of the team arrived at Ground Zero, they will be shown direction to the "slide". It is aptly called that because it is a slide in a cave. an almost 50 degree inclination of a 8 meter drop, the girl will slide down this rock face and find their way through an opening big enough for one person, slide down and reach the underground river where they will walk, crawl, navigate downstream on the river to exit the cave.

From there, they will go to Mrs. Songx to tell her all the 20 items they need to remember. Each forgotten items will result in them having to stand on one leg for 10 seconds.

From there, they will take their bicycle (On loan from Proton Bike) and cycle to Mystery test #2 where Swamp Thing Songx will have the pleasure to put them into shin deep soggy smelly swamp....

From there, they will cycle to The Land (a piece of land where Yuen Li has her name on) where they will do the final mystery test before being allowed to open their box. (sounded like Explorace already)

After the last girl came down from the abseil, me and angie decided to hike up the 255 steps back to Yuen and Pip. The reason was Hadi, anohter cameraman from Red Comm was already in the underground river with the girl and one guide (en. Manan, 14 years of experience in Gua Tempurung and spent his whole life caving as a teen and adult).

From there, the marshalls clean up and packed up and headed to The Land where the 3R hostess, Celina, Rafidah and Kartini were waiting for them girls.


Rafidah, Celina and Kartini of the 3R and Gol&Gincu fame

There, Jules were having a time of her life, torturing, mentally the participants on the answer to the final mystery challenge. Before the race start, it was already made known that it's not important that who came in first, or who came in last. Again, at the Land, they were told that teamwork is important.

The last mystery test requires them to solve a maths problem. At the Swamp, each girls' team were given a number. At the Land, they are all supposed to work as a big team as opposed to individual team to solve it. The first girl team plucked figure from the sky and solve the puzzle, but couldn't tell the marshalls the reason for the numbers. Hence, can't be declared the winner.

It was until the last team that came to the landing was anohter clue revealed. The 3R hosts told them that in the last 4 days, they are all individuals, and now they are a unit, and nothing could be done if there is no teamwork and sharing!

And so...the girls, looked like they had an enlightenment solved the puzzle.

Apparently, the first girl team wanted to share their number with the second team, the second team refused the offer... looked like kiasu spirit still rules in our daily life!

Upon completing the puzzle, the girl opened a box and they are given 2 boxes of matches to build a torch from bamboo, rug and kerosene. They have to take the torch and walk into the cave, traversing through the *darkness* and come out triumph at the finish line.


I bestow to thee, Gua Yuen Li!

It is truly a race where the winner are everyone, not just an individual team. That's what esprit de corp is all about.


Pip, Jules and Yuen discussing way to torture the girls next time around.

It was truly an enjoyable experience where a pseudo racer like me has a chance to marshall and see the action behind the races. It might be a small race which i volunteered to marshall, now, i got more options in the future; for races which i can't race in, i'll volunteer to marshall!

:)

A truly Win-Win situation. Thank you all at Nomad Adventure for giving me this chance!

Post note:
Watch this 2 episode in the Season Finale of 3R Season 12, should be on air end of this year and see me face in full night vision setup. See how Mrs. Songx torture the participant's mind and How Songx became the Swamp Thing...

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