Sunday, December 30, 2012

USJ 2012 Qigong Annual Dinner - Programme Discussion

The Zhineng Qigong USJ Annual Dinner Organizing Committee met at the actual venue for a detailed discussion of the programme, and also to meet up with the Restaurant Supervisor in preparing for the function.
 
Being the official cameraman for this coming annual dinner which shall be held on 26 January 2013, Saturday evening, yours truly (KC) also took the opportunity to do some testing shots of the actual location.
 
 The Main Hall of Grand Imperial Restaurant, USJ 19 City Mall.
Note: stage showing another function; all the recessed light and chandeliers are not turned on.

At the restaurant, however, the daylight condition is different from the actual lighting at night as most of the light was not turned on and sunlight was coming through the glass panels.
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Maybe I have to go again for someone else’s wedding dinner function and pretending that I am one of the cameramen … :-)
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According to the Organizing Chairman, the response is fantastic – all the 200 tickets for 20 tables have been snapped up. Nevertheless, the restaurant is big enough to cater for additional tables, if needs arise.


Programme discussion in progress … (left) Benjamin, Alex Lim, Caryn, KC, Alan Yu laoshi, Benz, ChingYH.
 
 Test shooting of skin tone ... Grace and Cindy

 HJ Tan, CH Tan, Lim BB, Grace Lim.

 Alan Yu laoshi, Benz, Ching YH, Jeff Yong (the accomplished Master of Ceremony), HJ Tan

Light moments within serious discussion
 
Do click here for previous year (2011) Zhineng Qigong USJ Annual Dinner, photos by KC Leong.
 
 
Posted by KC Leong
 
 

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Puchong Hill Trekking


Trekking at Puchong Hill (or Ayer Hitam Forest Reserve) with Zhineng Qigong members and friends on Sunday, 23 Dec 2012.
 
A distance of 5.5km that took 2 hours for a slow and steady trekking.
 
As usual, I would do my trail running here, surging forward and running backtrack; after the daily rain, the trail is quite wet and muddy. Compare to the Bukit Kiara which I went the day before, it was drier there.
 
I met a few trail runners who could recognize me, one of them is from LYN Runners.
 
After trekking, the group adjourned to Puchong town for brunch, a Chinese coffeeshop recommended by KL Tan; lots of good food there.
 
Do click here to view photos courtesy of yours truly (KC).
 
 A group photo at the limestone area
The regulars are KL Tan, See Toh, Gan, Brenda Lee, Cindy Lim, Grace Lim, Linda.

 Another group photo at the elevated area

 Going up the hill … Linda

 See Toh (in the middle)

 Brenda and Linda … Look! There are small fishes in the stream!

 Crystal clear water … notice Cindy's hands are in the water 

 Another group photo at the peak area

Creative solution in overcoming problem to sustain the journey - one of the members, whose shoes are breaking apart.

This hill is good for practising trail running … (kC)
 
 Trail map charted by my Garmin FR610 GPS-enabled watch.
A distance of 5.5km that took 2 hours for a slow and steady trekking.
 

Do click here for other activities involving Zhineng qigong members at Puchong Hill. Scroll down the pages; this posting could be repeated.

Posted by KC Leong



Sunday, December 23, 2012

Christmas Trail Running

Bukit Kiara Christmas Gift Exchange Trail Run on 22 Dec 2012 (Saturday). Thanks to Raymond Ng for organizing this event.

MERRY CHRISTMAS
Wishing you lots of love, joy and happiness.
 
 
Do click here to view photos courtesy of yours truly (KC).

 Christmas mood is in the air

 Quite a big group of trail runners; KC Leong (back, left #1), Raymond Ng is at front, R4.

 Modern day tapping of latex; there are still some rubber trees in Bukit Kiara

Another group of outdoor enthusiasts that morning -- many huge millipedes are seen on the ground. After two hours, there were scaling new heights -- by climbing on to a tree. I wonder where they are heading to and how they are going to go to come down ... :-)

 At the view point area

 Lai Kuan running up the slope

 Christmas gifts exchange from the trail runners

 Kenny is looking for the gift that correspond to the number that he had drawn

 Completion of the gifts exchange

Merry Christmas 2013 to everyone !! (left) Raymond Ng, Michelle, Agnes Yew.

Do click here for other outdoor events at Bukit Kiara (or Kiara Hill) (this posting is repeated; scroll down the pages)

Posted by KC Leong

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Lucky Valley

A visit to Lucky Valley Resorts at Muadzam Shah, Pahang with my family members and relatives to experience the natural chi (qi) and the tranquil environment from 7-9 Dec 2012.
 
The environment is full of natural energy and chi which is an ideal place to recharge one's body energy. Unique to this area is the abundance of natural chi balls which are not visible to the naked eyes but are visible in photos.
 
Do click here to view 145 photos courtesy of KC Leong.
 
When in Picasa photo album, hit F11 key and click Slideshow for bigger display.
 Your truly (KC) with my family members and relatives at the tranquil environment of Lucky Valley for a weekend retreat

  The main car park area

 Block A (left) and Block B ... Block A can accommodate 20 persons; Block B, 16.

 The Energy Pyramid – most spectacular and unique structure in Lucky Valley

 A 2-storey high pyramid with a spacious interior and raised central platform that is good for meditation, yoga, qigong and other energy-mind-body exercises

 The Pagoda of Lucky Valley – breezy and unobstructed view; a cylindrical building topped by a dome. Standing right below the dome, one would experience echoing of sound

 View platform of the pagoda – splendid view of the surrounding areas; the red-top building is the reception and recreation areas
Day-2, 8 December 2012, Saturday, 7:00 a.m. - Trekking trip lead by Mr Das and accompanied by the resident dogs, only five of them were here. In this photo is my nephew.

Guarded by the vigilant dogs which are constantly on the look-up for danger, they also enjoy the outdoor activity by running around happily.

I was told by Mr Hwang, the caretaker of the resorts, that in one of the retreats, there were 80 members, the slow ones were left behind and lost their way; they were guided by the dogs safely back to the resorts.

 Beautiful morning with clear blue sky … Mr Das in yellow T-shirt.
 The trail leads us to the main gate of Lucky Valley that look like the twin towers in The Lord of the Rings movie, albeit a much smaller scale… yours truly (KC).

 A bee busy in extracting nectar

 Day-3, 9 December 2012, Sunday, 6:30 a.m.
Notice the abundance of natural chi balls in the air.

 Notice the abundance of natural chi balls in the air (or are these water vapour?)

 Notice the abundance of natural chi balls in the air.

 Yours truly (KC) … the dots of white light in the background is the reception and recreation areas of Lucky Valley Resorts
 Note: the lens (of camera) is clean and no condensation on the lens; other people also experienced the same photo effect before.
 Morning exercise in progress

 Guarding the lakeside bungalow – a cute and nice looking puppy
 The lakeside bungalow of Lucky Valley – This is the 3rd energy spot of the Lucky Valley: the first is the open pagoda, the second is the energy pyramid, the third is the lake.

 Release all your bad energy into the lake – the lakeside bungalow is good for activities such as meditation or exercise right beside the water

 The lake where the lakeside bungalow is located

Entrance by the Kuala Rompin main road: 4.5km from the main overhead bridge of Muadzam Shah; 5km from here to the main reception area via the red-earth road with bumpy ride.




GPS coordinates at this location (by KC Leong): E 103, 5' 43.2" ... N 3, 2' 34.9"
 
Do click here for Google Maps of Lucky Valley (mark by green arrow).


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How to go to Lucky Valley Resorts, Muadzam Shah of Pahang:
 
a. Via North-South Highway: exit at Senawang toll (after Seremban); follow Kuala Pilah road sign; at Kuala Pilah, make a left turn at traffic light next to MCA Building. Follow Batu Kikir, Bandar Tun Razak, then Muadzam Shah;
 
b. Via SILK and LEKAS Highway: enter via Mines Shopping Complex or Cheras Selatan Shopping Complex (both at Balakong); at the far end of LEKAS Highway, left exit to Kuala Pilah. Follow Batu Kikir, Bandar Tun Razak, then Muadzam Shah;
 
c. Approaching Muadzam Shah, at the flyover to Kuantan and Kuala Rompin, take 3 o'clock turn (left exit and go under the flyover); on the main road to Kuala Rompin, 4.5km away, you will see the signboard of Lucky Valley. To arrive at destination is another 5km red-earth road with bumpy ride;
 
d. Total distance from Kuala Lumpur is about 250km; travelling time is about 3.5 hours.
 
How to Capture the Natural Chi Balls:
 
a. Best when it is dark (say, before 6 am); when the sun comes out, the chi balls are not easily visible;
 
b. Point camera at the sky as the uniform background is more visible;
 
c. Use flash photography (I read that for best effect, use compact camera instead of SLR).

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Do click here for the official website.

Extracted here are the official descriptions:
LUCKY VALLEY is nestled in 500 acres of fruit orchards, vegetable plots and herb gardens, cultivated on what was previously virgin jungle, which still lines the perimeter of the land. The retreat was founded by Directors who discovered that the energy in the area was unusually strong, and could be harnessed for health and healing. So the land was acquired and the jungle was turned into a rich plantation of common and exotic fruits, medicinal herbs, and organic vegetables.
 
The retreat is frequented by many foreigner and local groups who come on organized “energy-enriching” retreats. Many are Yoga, TaiChi, Qigong or spiritual groups. The retreat is not a religious centre but is suitable for any meditative or spiritual group.
 
The land is strewn with paths that join the different structures and areas, and in the perimeter is the 7 km hiking trail that is the highlight of any visit to the retreat. The hike starts in the early morning after a light breakfast. There are ponds and lakes that are covered by many species of water-lilies and lotuses. The fishes for our meals are home-reared, and are caught fresh just before being cooked. Recreational fishing is not encouraged though it would be a haven for such enthusiasts. The lakeside bungalow allows activities like meditation, discussions and exercises to be done right by the waterside.
 

Posed by KC Leong

Thursday, December 06, 2012

A Fruit-FULL Search for Mau San Wong

What a fruit-FULL trip to Raub attracted by the immense chi force of Mau San Wong (or Musang King) durian! Thanks to Benz laoshi's (Zhineng Qigong) connection that made the durian gastronomic delights trip possible on Sunday, 2 Dec 2012. Together with the help of Benz's uncle from Raub, I am sure that would be the beginning of many years of great durian trips that follow.
Along the journey via Bentong en route to Raub, we were thrilled to see the bountiful harvest of durians displayed at the many roadside stalls. Almost all stalls displayed sales of Mau San Wong durian to lure prospects to their produces. Looks like D24 has lost its limelight. And those RM 1 each kampung durians were cheaply priced when competing with the king of the King of Fruits.

Do CLICK HERE to view photos courtesy of yours truly (KC Leong). 
 Durians, durians everywhere! … your truly (KC Leong)

 (left): Tan CH, Grace Lim, Annie, Cindy Lim, Lim BB, Benz Ng, Ching, Brenda Lee

 The legendary Mau San Wong durian (or Musang King) with the smooth and deep yellow texture

Arriving at the durian orchard, we were really excited to see those big, healthy and low-lying durians hanging from the branches lower than our height. As Cindy quipped, she wanted to plug the durian. I was thrilled to be greeted by so many genuine Mau San Wong durians that were harvested and placed on the floor of a dilapidated workers' shelter. When the fruits were opened, from the deep yellow texture of the flesh, we know this is heavy-duty stuff. And when the flesh melted in our mouth, Hmmm, Ahhhh ... superb! ... :-) 

 At the durian orchard … (left): Brenda Lee, Ching, Soo laoshi, Yong, Cindy, Lim BB, Grace. Next to them on the floor are the Mau San Wong durians; in the wheelbarrow are D24 and Tikar durians.

  The low-lying durian … Brenda, Lim BB, Cindy, Benz, Ching

 Benz's pick-up truck for transporting the durians back to Subang Jaya … Annie rearranging the durians to create more space
Extended Eating – After eating the Mau San Wong durian, mangosteens and rambutans, the group went to Raub town to savour the famous roti bakar, coffee and 3-colour ice tea. The group sure came with big appetite. Later, the group went to Ratha Restaurant, a famous fish-head curry house to ta-pau (pack) fish-head curry. We were told that the Sultan of Pahang patronized this restaurant before.

 At the famous Ratha's fish-head curry house

 At the 3-White-Tent Durian Area ... lunch is free of charge
I particularly like the clean and spacious 3-White-Tent durian outlet besides the main road located between Raub and Bentong towns. They served lunch – yes, free of charge! The atmosphere under the oil palm trees was so pleasant, cordial and peaceful that we could sit there and chatted for hours while eating durian, rambutan, dukong and drinking fragrance coconut juice. Complete with sound amplifying systems and neon lights, we could even have durian party there dancing away with the Gangnam Style music into the evening with the carnival mood. Food is what brings us together: in this case, the durians bind us together. We saw all races eat together in this area under the oil palm trees.

Clean environment – the atmosphere under the oil palm trees is so pleasant, cordial and peaceful

Missing in the itinerary was a visit to the spectacular Chamang Waterfall which was not possible due to a massive traffic jam that blocked our way home; we then decided to take a different route to return to Kuala Lumpur.

Special thanks again to Benz who was so thoughtful that he drove a pick-up truck to help us in transporting the prized fruits back to Subang Jaya. For without the pick-up truck, our cars would be smelled for weeks after the fabric was completely infused with the goodness of the durian.
Well, with a turn of the event, my durian status has been upgraded from "I have not eaten Mau San Wong durian before" to "I am eating ONLY Mau San Wong durian" on that auspicious and memorable outing. 

 Free lunch, durian, drinking fragrance coconut juice … Brenda, Benz, Ching, Soo laoshi, Yong

Interesting Observation:

Mau Wong – At the orchard, instead of saying Mau San Wong durian, the name was cut short to become Mau Wong. In Cantonese, Mau Wong is the name for late Elvis Presley.
Durian Chi – Tan CH did not drive his MPV to Raub; instead, he was carpooling with Benz. According to Tan, he has muscle sprain in his neck which rendered him not able to perform all the necessary surveillance tasks for a safe driving when behind the wheel. However, after eating the Mau San Wong durians at the orchard, he felt the pain in his neck has disappeared. That must be the potent durian chi in action.
Old versus New – We adjourned to a famous but age-old pastry shop to buy curry and kaya puff. I was taking photos of the group members when buying the hot pastry. The young shop owner, however, was not too pleased with me taking of photos. Then with a quick thinking, Soo laoshi joked that I just returned from USA and found everything is something new to me. The explanation seemed to work well.
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Durian Feast – As to the amount of durian that I eat, well, I have Mau San Wong durians plus mangosteens and rambutans for lunch at the durian orchard; I ate them for dinner plus dukong langsat after arriving home at about 8:30 p.m.; next day (3 Dec 2012, Monday), I also ate them for dinner just before the chi gong practice session – what a fruitful outing and a fruity treat!
After Effect – As to the effect of consuming too much potent durian, one member in the chi gong class was wondering why the whole practice area smelled durian. I guess the one person that get the maximum impact must be a lady chi gong member standing in-line about five feet in front of me when I burped a few times… :-)

Mangosteen of Japanese species - Another new discovery at the orchard; easily open, it contains 7 segments of wedge-shaped, pure white flesh minus the big seeds.
Do click here to read postings on durians written by yours truly (KC). Scroll down the pages.

Posted by KC Leong