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Managed to find these photos online... Looked better than those official ones taken by Stand ChartThursday, February 26, 2009
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Out of Action...
Looks like the haze and the bad weather is taking a toll on me... Sore throat, flu and cough..
And Fri night at Eunice house together with Audrey.... Having a guitar sharing session.. hahaa.. Feeling quite a failure... have been learning guitar since sec.. but till date, i can't play a full song.. hahaaa.. must start practising... BUt i guess for the whole session, we spent 3/4 of the time chit chatting... And after sending audrey back home in Yishun, the warning light for the empty fuel tank lighted up... So i drove around yishun, hoping to find a petrol station.. And my conclusion is yishun people don't pump petrol in yishun. I can't find a single one.
One week of inaction.. No running, No swimming, no gym-ing... And yet 7th mar is drawing even nearer... Better start to buck up next week...
But at least it's the meet friends have dinner week... Poor Physical health and impending Poor financial health... still trying to recuperate from the HK trip.. oh sian...
Dinner with Kelvyn who decides to come back from CHina and to work in singapore.. Perhaps as a teacher... From the stuff he told me which he encountered during relief teaching, I can't imagine kids nowadays are behaving in such a manner...
Dinner with Terence who is going away to Aust to do his masters... How i yearn to go overseas to do a Masters as well... Well, I am just waitin for another year... Once my time to apply for an overseas master is here, I guess i will apply... But sponsored studies=bond... Scared.. haha.. But one year overseas in US/UK will be really an experience to learn more abt myself too... hmmm
And Fri night at Eunice house together with Audrey.... Having a guitar sharing session.. hahaa.. Feeling quite a failure... have been learning guitar since sec.. but till date, i can't play a full song.. hahaaa.. must start practising... BUt i guess for the whole session, we spent 3/4 of the time chit chatting... And after sending audrey back home in Yishun, the warning light for the empty fuel tank lighted up... So i drove around yishun, hoping to find a petrol station.. And my conclusion is yishun people don't pump petrol in yishun. I can't find a single one.
So I decided to try out how true is the reserve tank theory, I drove back to tampines. Trying hard not to floor the accelerator, letting go when there's a downslope... This is what you will do when you don't want to stop halfway because your tank is empty.
And i made it back to Tamp. So glad that I don't have to make any emergency call to my lao Peh to ask him to find me somewhere along the expressway. Reminds me of the instance when I went to pump petrol without bring my wallet along.
But at least it's proven, Latio's reserve fuel... can last from yishun to tamp. And I am tired.
And Just got pangseh by my friend for dinner. It was more or less expected that he would pangseh me... When I was trying to arrange, he kept having a lot of requests. Dinner to lunch... earlier meeting times, venues... And outstanding, a call this morning to tell me that he not feeling well and he's feeling tired. He doesn't sound sick. But benefit of doubt to him.... BUT i still think he's just trying to cook up a reason. Perhaps after NS, you know who's really sick by listening to their voice.
But yah.. Promises nowadays... what's that?
Saturday, February 14, 2009
HK: Eat and Shop till you flip.
After my full day of rest on sun, Mon and Tues was entirely on eat, shop, sleep, eat shop and sleep.
I didn't buy anything for myself because I am still recovering from my Thailand Trip. Spent around 1000 in thailand. So i limit myself to 600 this time round. I only bought the DIE die must buy stuff. Stuff for my mom, dad, sis and bro. Goodies for my boss and fellow team mates. The moment I got all these items, I automatically just switched to a mind blank, just follow mode and bascially just followed the gals where ever they go. And also the porter mode, helping them to carry their stuff.
Stormed all the factory outlets. Esprit, Nike, Adidas, Puma. You name it, we got it. The shopping itinerary was 10 sheets thick. I don't even bother to read through them. It just amazed me the extent of preparations gals will take to go shopping. The very big trolley suitcase with 2-3 very big empty bags, together with the months of research.
Guess the shopping place is bigger as compared to Thailand, with the cooling weather as well. That's why I don't really find it so tiring as the last time. The gals also took into consideration that I just finished a marathon, so they did take the effort to slow down their shopping pace. But occassionally, I have to make request. "eh.. i am tired. i want to take a seat." "eh... i am hungry... i want to eat." I am sure that if i didn't sound off my hunger, they will most probably just skip lunch or dinner. Other than the porter and follow around role which they gave me, I was also the guy's pt of view opinion for them.
AUdrey: eh.. you think black nice or white nice?
Me: Eh... Black looks sophisticated... white looks more pure and innocent.
Audrey: Happily took the black and went to make payment
After some comtemplating, she turned and came back to get the white one.
Me: Ohhh... so you decided to be pure and innocent again?
Audrey: Placed back the white one... and took off with the black one again.
I can't understand gals. Seriously.
As for our sightseeing trip, we went to the very famous buddha temple. THe going there part is good. My maiden ride on a cable car. Or cable car virgin you would say. hahaa. We saw Mei Yan fang tablet in the temple as well. Outstanding artist. 
In the night, we went to the place where the stars' palm and signature are on the tiles. hahaa... people like jackie chan, maggie cheung, aaron kwok. I think we look a bit over excited whenever we see stars we like. And the funnie stunts everyone threw. 
so sorry for all the blur shots. Night Mode not good!!
I miss Hk and the shopping company.
HK Marathon 2009
Decided to have a post solely for the review of the HK marathon.
The entire experience is really awesome. To be able to run in a foreign country across their heartlands, along their iconic bridges and through the central business district is really a hard to come by opportunity.
The residents shouting cheers in cantonese which I find it very heartwarming. You hardly hear cheers in dialects. "Ka yao!! Noh lek!!" (which means Jiayou, work hard). They are everywhere. Along the roads, in their housing estates, on their balconies, on the overhead bridges and especially the last 2 km stretch through the Shopping haven, Causeway Bay. The amazing shopping crowds.
The entire race route was challenging with the slopes located at the last 12km part of the run. I find the slopes even steeper than the ones we had at Benjamin sheares. Sad to say, I didn't train hard for the slopes which i knew before I went over to HK. Whenever I encountered every slope, I just stopped and walked up. Thát's why training is impt. The haze is not as bad as I tot it would be. Everything turned out to be fine, perhaps it's because it's a Sun and the factories are closed. THe weather is good as well. Low humidity and cooling weather at around 20 deg. I regretted dousing myself with water along the race. The water together with the cool winds to the hot and sweaty core, made me feel a little sick along the way.
My timing is reasonably okay. Shall try to hit below 4 hrs for the end of the year Sinapore Stand Chart Marathon.
10km mark: 54 mins
21km mark: 1 hr 52 mins
30km mark: 2 hr 53 mins
42.195km mark: 4 hr 25 mins.
And this marathon has a cut off timing of 5 hrs 30 mins. Anyone whom the organisers deem as unable to meet that timing will be asked to load up the bus and to be driven back to the end pt. I remembered seeing bus loads of participants alighting when I was battling the crowds back to my hostel.
But the going home part was hard. Trying to squeeze my way past the shopping crowd in my smelly,sweaty singlet and tights is not easy. The crowd is like the count down kinda crowd. I feel so bad for being so smelly. hahaa... And the ending point is full of indonesians. I guess it's their place for the maids to gather every weekend. I was so shy until I tried to cover my tights with the finisher pack. The HK runners who wore tights had a running shorts over it. Mine was just the tights. Cultural clash. I even had to queue up to cross the road which is only 3 metres wide to get to the side of my hostel.
And when i finally made my way back to the room, my other running buddy is already lying on the bed. Clothing washed, shower taken. Outstanding. His timing: 3 hrs 54 mins. And I owed him a meal. We had a bet that whoever is the slowest will treat the faster one. Lost this time round. We had another bet for the one end of the year. I will make sure i will win him, despite the fact that he is 13 years older than me. hahaha...
And I just slept my day away. And the gals left for dim sum without us.
The entire experience is really awesome. To be able to run in a foreign country across their heartlands, along their iconic bridges and through the central business district is really a hard to come by opportunity.
The residents shouting cheers in cantonese which I find it very heartwarming. You hardly hear cheers in dialects. "Ka yao!! Noh lek!!" (which means Jiayou, work hard). They are everywhere. Along the roads, in their housing estates, on their balconies, on the overhead bridges and especially the last 2 km stretch through the Shopping haven, Causeway Bay. The amazing shopping crowds.
The entire race route was challenging with the slopes located at the last 12km part of the run. I find the slopes even steeper than the ones we had at Benjamin sheares. Sad to say, I didn't train hard for the slopes which i knew before I went over to HK. Whenever I encountered every slope, I just stopped and walked up. Thát's why training is impt. The haze is not as bad as I tot it would be. Everything turned out to be fine, perhaps it's because it's a Sun and the factories are closed. THe weather is good as well. Low humidity and cooling weather at around 20 deg. I regretted dousing myself with water along the race. The water together with the cool winds to the hot and sweaty core, made me feel a little sick along the way.
My timing is reasonably okay. Shall try to hit below 4 hrs for the end of the year Sinapore Stand Chart Marathon.
10km mark: 54 mins
21km mark: 1 hr 52 mins
30km mark: 2 hr 53 mins
42.195km mark: 4 hr 25 mins.
And this marathon has a cut off timing of 5 hrs 30 mins. Anyone whom the organisers deem as unable to meet that timing will be asked to load up the bus and to be driven back to the end pt. I remembered seeing bus loads of participants alighting when I was battling the crowds back to my hostel.
But the going home part was hard. Trying to squeeze my way past the shopping crowd in my smelly,sweaty singlet and tights is not easy. The crowd is like the count down kinda crowd. I feel so bad for being so smelly. hahaa... And the ending point is full of indonesians. I guess it's their place for the maids to gather every weekend. I was so shy until I tried to cover my tights with the finisher pack. The HK runners who wore tights had a running shorts over it. Mine was just the tights. Cultural clash. I even had to queue up to cross the road which is only 3 metres wide to get to the side of my hostel.
And when i finally made my way back to the room, my other running buddy is already lying on the bed. Clothing washed, shower taken. Outstanding. His timing: 3 hrs 54 mins. And I owed him a meal. We had a bet that whoever is the slowest will treat the faster one. Lost this time round. We had another bet for the one end of the year. I will make sure i will win him, despite the fact that he is 13 years older than me. hahaha...
And I just slept my day away. And the gals left for dim sum without us.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
I am back!
I am finally back... wow hoo... HK is good i feel.... I like it better than Taiwan... Will share the reasons when i am feeling less tired..
Back to the agenda...
Distance: 42.195 km
Time: 4 hrs 25 mins.
Time: 4 hrs 25 mins.
Not too bad... COs i was aiming for 4 hr 30 mins... But I could have done it within 4 hrs.... I gave up on myself during the last 10 km.... I basically walked whenever I hit a slope.. and the HK is infamous for the slopes at the last 10 km... I took 1 hr 40 mins to clear the last 12km...
Was reflecting on myself after the race... I guess it's because I didn't put in effort during every training.. I always run to my comfortable pace, without feeling any strain... I should put in more effort next time... haha... Jia You jiayou~
And the Hongkongers really can run. I was overtaken by quite a lot of ah peks and some ladies... 4hr 25mins is not really too great a timing. But if I were in Singapore, I guess i won't be overtaken by so many of them. My conclusion is that HK is a hilly place: The ah peks are used to it.
Friday, February 6, 2009
HK Marathon. Here I come
This will be a zi lian post. Was trying some outfits to see which one matches for the HK run.
After so many combi, I still stick with what i wore for the Singapore one. Just that i got myself a SKINS tights. It's quite good i feel. It prevents the tights from vibrating and hence preventing cramps. I have big thighs... Very susceptible to cramps.. at least now i feel better psychologically.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
2 more days
The day is drawing near!
HK! A flight in the wee hours... on a Sat morning... 6am flight ah. Cui
Insurance settled.
Lodging settled.
Mindef Overseas notification done.
Currency exchange. NOT DONE!
Bag. NOT PACKED!
Toiletries etc. NOT BOUGHT!
Time: 8 Feb 0800hrs
Venue: HK
Distance: 42.195km (argh...) I can still remember how my legs cramped at the 30km mark at the run last time.
Hope I can better my timing the last time. Below 4.30hrs i hope. (Got 5hrs 9 min the last time)
And i going to tender soon.... leaving the job which i love so much... the colleagues whom I enjoy chatting with... The clients whom really get on my nerves sometimes.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
cos i will be winning the $10 million TOTO draw on Fri.
HK! A flight in the wee hours... on a Sat morning... 6am flight ah. Cui
Insurance settled.
Lodging settled.
Mindef Overseas notification done.
Currency exchange. NOT DONE!
Bag. NOT PACKED!
Toiletries etc. NOT BOUGHT!
Time: 8 Feb 0800hrs
Venue: HK
Distance: 42.195km (argh...) I can still remember how my legs cramped at the 30km mark at the run last time.
Hope I can better my timing the last time. Below 4.30hrs i hope. (Got 5hrs 9 min the last time)
And i going to tender soon.... leaving the job which i love so much... the colleagues whom I enjoy chatting with... The clients whom really get on my nerves sometimes.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
cos i will be winning the $10 million TOTO draw on Fri.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Yes is the New no? I bet No has other forms
Nowadays people don't say no anymore...
When you ask them, they will say...
"On la... I am really cool with it... Go arrange okay? I will confirm with you again."
The next thing you know... "Hey sorry i have something to rush.. some other time perhaps."
Trustworthiness -10.
When you sms them, they won't reply until 1 hr before the intended meeting time.
"Hey sorry abit rush for me.. i have other appts le"
Hey... I smsed you like 2 days before that... and You replied me at the last min.. the War is already over...
Logicality - 20!
Trustworthiness -10
Reliability -10
WHen you sms them, they don't reply.
This is really ultimate. It's just a yes or no. Apparently if you say no, i will just say okay lo... at least have the courtesy to let me pre plan my schedule too.
EQ -10.
Trustworthiness -40
Reliability -30
People just piss you off once in a while. That's life. Just be a man (or woman, or should i say ADULT), to at least have the courtesy to cook some excuses to say no.
When you ask them, they will say...
"On la... I am really cool with it... Go arrange okay? I will confirm with you again."
The next thing you know... "Hey sorry i have something to rush.. some other time perhaps."
Trustworthiness -10.
When you sms them, they won't reply until 1 hr before the intended meeting time.
"Hey sorry abit rush for me.. i have other appts le"
Hey... I smsed you like 2 days before that... and You replied me at the last min.. the War is already over...
Logicality - 20!
Trustworthiness -10
Reliability -10
WHen you sms them, they don't reply.
This is really ultimate. It's just a yes or no. Apparently if you say no, i will just say okay lo... at least have the courtesy to let me pre plan my schedule too.
EQ -10.
Trustworthiness -40
Reliability -30
People just piss you off once in a while. That's life. Just be a man (or woman, or should i say ADULT), to at least have the courtesy to cook some excuses to say no.
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