Standard Chartered KL Marathon 2009

42.195km


The same distance between Kampar - Ipoh, or PJ - Putrajaya...

I think I'm outta my mind....


-LV-

Conquering Bkt. Tabur East

I spent my previous weekend hiking up Bkt Tabur East, an activity organised as Raleigh KL's monthly meet.

Dragged myself out of bed at 545 am, hit the roads, drove along MRR II and arrived at Wangsa Maju LRT station (our meeting point) at 7am sharp.

It was a leisurely 2 hour plus hike up, with a few steep terrains along the way, and the part where we had to climb up the peak with assistance of a rope provided some form of 'excitement' to the hike.

Had 3 watermelons and some snacks were passed around when we reached the peak. Had a short meeting and members were updated with news and happenings since the February monthly meet.

Made our way down at 1130am, and Liza and I were the 2nd and 3rd to arrive respectively. Met up with Dennis at the mini lake at the foot of the hill, whilst waiting for the rest.

It took another 2 more hours before the rest of the group showed up, and off home we went!

I didn't pack much except for my trusted bandana and a cap which I didn't use at all during the hike. Needed a clear view to prevent myself from slipping down the hill. Alas, despite being a 'semi-pro' hiker, I forgot two crucial things.

1. I wore shorts. Fine! No big deal, but since I hate hiking in longs, leech socks are a must to prevent unnecessary scratches from the scrubs and bushes. But I forgot them! I went up Mt. K well prepared, anticipating the bushes etc, but I underestimated the shrubs at Tabur. Needless to say, my legs are well-adorned with 'patterns' as a result.

2. I forgot my mosquito repellant. Hope I don't contract Dengue, Chikunkunya, Malaria... *period*

It was in some ways, a refreshing weekend for me taking into account the stressful week that I had...

It was a certainly nice view of KL city...

-LV-

Sleepless...

I hate sleepless nights, as my mind would inevitably run wild and begin pondering over life... Life is like a bowl of tortila chips, it comes in all shapes and sizes, and needs to be talen with a pinch of salt (salsa dip in this case). I enjoy those long philosophical conversations with Dad, and we had one of such recently. It helped clear off some underlying doubts of mine and it definitely did push me towards a more affirmative choice. Its hard to say that I've fallen out of love recently, but it's more of a case justifying a firm and final decision making to end it once and for all, and not mull upon it any further. They say, the first step is always the hardest. This is true... We're often too reluctant to go out of our comfort zone, but once we summon the courage to do it, we'll be more than fine...

Work

The past week had been great for me, in terms of learning experience. Though I did feel stupid at certain times, but I've learnt more than I had in the whole 4 months I've been working.

I had heaps of files chucked straight into my face upon reporting to my new boss. And boy, I've been kept busy with it. I like the idea of being assigned to a Mentor, who will act as a reference point for me. Good, especially for dumb and clueless ones like me.

It's tough and a tedious job going through tonnes and tonnes of documents without a single photograph in the file. And it can be dry at times. But the hardest bit to me is trying to second guess and out-smart the persons in question. At times, I feel that I have a single track mind, and I think I need to be more sly and cunning to win the battle of wits. With experience, I hope to be able to win the battle!

Week 2 starts tomorrow, and I hope it will be a 'smarter week' for me...

Good night and adios!

-LV-

Sudah Jatuh Ditimpa Tangga

My trusty lil' red-phone has pretty much had its run. It's starting to show signs of wear and tear. And I'm leaping with joy at the opportunity to buy a new gadget! :P Considering some options available under the SE label. But it's difficult to make up my mind. I want to get a slider, but at the same time, I'd like to show-off a bit with a gaya-fied Stylus, poking here and there. Can't find a phone with both features on SE. Would love the C905 but it's damn expensive!!!!! Don't think I need to splurge that much on a phone. Haih...

Next up the list is my 6 year old laptop, which has been galavanting around the world with me. Its time has come and the end is near. The keyboard has konged off, and it takes me bloody 15minutes (I'm not kidding) to load MSN and Internet Explorer. Currently eyeing the apple-green coloured lappie by Dell, but it's a bit too big for me... :P Haih again....

We shall see...

25 Facts

This thing has been going round on Facebook recently, where I've been tagged countless times. I had to list down 25 things about myself and then forward the list to a number of people on my friend list.

Anyway, here's my fact list.

1. My name gets 'raped' each and everytime it is to be read or spelt out.

2. The longest I've ever survived without a shower was for 3 days and 2 nights whilst jungle trekking in Sabah.

3. Contrary to popular belief, I'm 5 feet tall (nothing more and nothing less).

4. I would like to go bungee jumping in New Zealand some day.

5. I've reached the peak of Mt. Kinabalu but the beautiful view was hampered by bad weather.

6. I have a short fuse.

7. I had conquered Sg. Kampar and Sg. Kiulu, and am looking forward to go white water rafting in Sg. Padas one day.

8. I aim to get my scuba diving licence by 2010.

9. I love to cook but hate washing up, and yes I make delicious tasting scones.

10. As much as I love Medical Law, I'm dabbling with Criminal Law now.

11. I built a kindergarten in Kg. Keranaan, Ranau (Sabah) with a bunch of 20 odd people in 21 days.

12. I would love (very much) to join a Raleigh IW; but things always seem to get in the way.

13. I'm left-handed when it comes to using a mouse.

14. I love watching Formula 1 and football, but seldom have time for it now.

15. I love sunflowers.

16. I love buying acessories/trinkets (necklaces, bracelets, anklets), but always end up wearing the same old pieces.

17. I love Taekwondo, but am unable to find time for it now.

18. I love taking photographs, but have sucky skills.

19. At times I wish I'm back in Manchester. As much as I love my new-found life here, I miss my old life back there!

20. I was hospitalised for the first time at St. Mary's Hospital (Manchester) in September 2006 for 'malaria'. Duh!!!!

21. I always seem to have a pathway that I'd like to lead in life, but somehow I always seem to lose track of it.

22. I have an innate fear of dogs, but am hopelessly in love with Mika.

23. I would love to go for a beach holiday, with a bunch of friends who are water sport fanatics. Jetski, paragliding, windsurfing....

24. I would love to try sky diving but have the fear of parachute malfunction.

25. I have a fear of blood being drawn from my body.

-LV

Random Googling

This sounds as if I'm turning into some stalker-like material. Don't worry because I'm not.

Some moment out of the blue, I googled up a friend's name randomly recently, and I found out more about him than I currently do. Nothing hugely surprising though. I knew that he's into photography all these while, but it turns out that he's really got a knack for it. Not bad eh!!!!

Must get him to do some flattering shots of me! Those with instant slimming effects, and those that cut off the double chin! He He He!!!!

-LV-

Spared

My head was momentarily on the chopping board,

For a couple of days, my fate loomed like dark clouds before the rain,

I was to be 'deployed' to a Sessions Court at a state somewhere in the Eastern-Central part of Malaysia for my services were needed there,

I waited,

It was finalised at 1645hours today,

I am staying put where I am at the moment,

Therefore, I need not reveal my trump card,

THANK GOD...

-LV

Happy Valentine's Day!!!!

-LV-

Spare A Moment's Thought

Things aren't always entirely about yourself... It helps to view things beyond your personal sphere... Only then, you'd realise that things aren't always about you alone... Put yourself in that someone's shoes, and you'd know what it's like being him/her...

Political Sandiwaras

Sandiwara (Malay) (n): soap opera

____

Defections, Resignations and Deaths...

They spice up the political scene in the country these days...

By-elections soon to come...

Political sandiwaras abound...

-LV-

Eat, Eat, Eat!

A long-time friend was telling me about his long hours at work, and how he would often conveniently 'forget' to have his lunch and dinner. He then told me of how often his better half would nag him for such 'forgetfulness'.

I am reminded of how often I would go into a similar nag-mode lately.

Maybe I should quit doing that and be more pro-active. I should probably pry open that certain someone's mouth as illustrated below (or maybe bigger)...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/momnurse/1065264060/

And then proceed to shove food down that certain someone's throat. Save energy, no need to nag! Muahahaha!!!! :P

-LV-

Missing Manchester

Jenny called me a couple of days ago. The call which was initially for 'official purposes' inevitably end up being gossip-filled (as usual).

We talked about work, and how mundane life has turned out for us. This is in a way true, working life has restricted our liberty to go where ever we desire, when ever we want to! It's clipped our wings and freedom to travel! The thought of skipping a day or two of classes for a long weekend break in Ibiza is now a day-dream!

We talked about how much we missed Manchester and how Europe seems 'untouchable' for us right here, right now; although the GBP has dropped to an all-time low.

We reminisced about her Subway job, my bancuh-kopi job; and how we stuck to those jobs despite the fact that we hated such brainless activities which only required manual labour. I recall having to read till 3am for my thesis, waking up at 6am, and walking to work by 7am, with the MP3 blaring loud music through my ears, armed with a thermos mug of coffee in my hand, making my way through the cold, dark wintry morning to my bancuh kopi place. "Why?"; many of you may ask. The answer is simply;
Job = Money = Travel/Holidays/Shopping!!!!
That was probably the mantra we lived by, and what we swore by for 12 months!

Which reminds me of our stint as tv-commercial extras with Park Ji-Sung. And not forgetting, our experience auditioning for another commercial with him in it, where we had to dance to the tune of Saturday Night Fever (if my memory does not fail me). Lols!!!!

On another note, NS posted a couple of albums in Facebook recently. Chinese New Year in Chinatown and a couple of 'tourist spots' in Manchester. I recalled life as a 'yellow-skinned' in a land of whites. I remembered how confusing it could be trying to explain to people that I'm Malaysian foremost and of Chinese origin. And all the more, how difficult it could be explaining the concept of chinese-go-by-both-their-middle-and-first-names scenario to the Mat Sallehs around. Sometimes I give up but there are times where I would stubbornly insist on them addressing me by both names. :P

As I was looking through her pictures, I could feel myself going, "Hey! That's Nicholas' St. in Chinatown!" "Hey! That's Wong Wong!" "Hey! That's Canal St.!" But perhaps, more strikingly, I went, "Ah, NS.... It's been ages since I saw her!!!!!" and "NS & D, so sweet!!!" :) (Hey, seriously!!!)

Oh well, as for now, (as discussed with Jenny); we've got to contend with AirAsia breaks around the Asian region. So girls, keep an eye on your Facebook invites! ;)

We shall revive the Manchester travel bug; Asian version!

-LV-

Done!

The journey is finally (officially) over!!!!!

-LV-

Karma, Karma, Karma

What comes around goes around. And I, despite not being the true-blue Buddhist I should be, I do believe in karma.

"Do not do unto others, what would pain thyself."

Unfortunately, many individuals do not seem to subscribe to this mantra, especially where relationships are concerned. Perhaps, these people belong to the alternative school of thought whereby all's fair in love and war.

And yes, these people would go all out and try every single trick in their bag to snatch, rob and nick someone else's better half. I detest, abhor, loathe, hate!!!!

Real life scenario in point.

A and B are dating. A moves to company X and meets C there. C, sensing the 'good prospect' in A decides to pounce. Armed with buckets full of home-made double-boiled soup, and yes, home cooked dinner invitations, C managed to snare A from under B's nose.

Bingo!!!! C landed herself the much wanted bounty!!!!! Tralalalala.... all at B's expense.

I know I may be wrong to have labelled C a b**** instantly, as A is to blame as well for not being able to resist temptation or perhaps for not being satisfied with what he has at the moment. As they always say, there won't be smoke without fire. And of course, it takes two to tango.

But well, she (C) knows very well that A is taken. Yet, she chose to play the role of the vicious boyfriend snatcher. Enough said, and my respect towards her is lost.

At times I wonder, has she ever wondered how it would have felt had she been the one in B's shoes?

Or perhaps, is A really that 'naive and innocent' when he said yes and thank you to the buckets of soup and home cooked dinner invitations?

Oh well, it doesn't matter anymore now. As the rest they say, is history. A and C are happily married.

So, 1-0 to the boyfriend snatcher!!!!

-LV-

Conquering the Peak of IndoChina

I've done Mt. K.

And I found out about Mt. Fansipan from The Star today. Planning to conquer it if and when possible. Any takers?

Further details at: http://www.trekfansipan.com/

-LV-

Bento Bento Bento

My fish and eel lunchbox, at Kissaten (I think that's the name), Ipoh. Yummy, fun but fattening few days of CNY hanging out sessions and roadtrips with the gang. Haih, I dread the thought of next Tuesday!

My Alma Matter

Secondary school; the place you had your first crush, puppy love, sense of comrade-ship, sense of pride towards your achievements, and most importantly the place that shaped you to be who you are today. I passed by my alma matter yesterday and stopped right in front of it while waiting for the traffic lights to turn green. Hence, this picture...

Bringing Nature to Work

Mum planted this 'lil plant for me. I brought it to work yesterday to brighten up my otherwise lifeless looking work station...

Of Eggs and Pigs in Blankets

We had an 'experiment' filled lunch today.

Bro made his egg-which-sticks-on-the-toast toast today. He tried placing the slice of bread on a frying pan and then he cracked the egg on the bread hoping that it would cook. But alas, it didn't. Hence, he turned to the oven for rescue. And thank god it did.

With some garlic butter spread on the bread and some black pepper sprinkled over the egg. It looked good, if not calorie laden!

In the meantime, I decided to make pigs in a blanket. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pigs_in_a_blanket) It was something I first had during the first of my many Christmases back in Manchester. Sinful, but delicious!

Well, it's essentially cocktail sausages with slices of streaky bacon wrapped over it. However, we decided to substitute the cocktail sausages with German Bratwurst for a crunchier and meaty bite. :P

It turned out fine but would have been better had we used cocktail sausages. Firstly, we didn't have enough bacon to go round the Bratwursts. And secondly, lazy me didn't bother using a toothpick/cocktail stick to hold the bacon in place. Hence, the 'blanket' slipped off the 'pig' at the end of the cooking process.

Nonetheless, here's the end product.

Note to self:

Will use toothpicks and get more bacon if we use German Bratwurst again. Otherwise, will buy cocktail sausages for it.

-LV-