Super GT 2012 at Sepang F1 (2)

 The gorgeous GT Queen from Japan

Do click here to view photos taken by yours truly (KC) - Album 2 (final).

 Long cool woman in a red dress ...

 Looking good ... I mean the car ... :-)

 Lots of spectators inside Sepang F1 Circuit

  The gathering of the biggest Super Cars and Performance Cars ...

 

Time = 4:00 p.m. (Sunday, 10 June 2012) ... all set for the 54-lap Super GT grand race

Spectators cheering for the start of Super GT grand race

Posted by KC Leong

Super GT 2012 at Sepang F1 (1)

Japan Super GT held at Sepang F1 Circuit from 9 - 10 June 2012.

Photos here are taken on Saturday, Day 1 of the event.

Do click here to view photos taken by yours truly (KC) - Album 1.

Local contestants for the selection of next year's 2013 Super GT Queens of Malaysia

Posted by KC Leong

We Wish to Trek at Puchong Hill Again

Attached here is a report appearing in The Star Metro dated 28 May 2012 about Ayer Hitam Forest Reserve (or we call it Puchong Hill). Located near to Bandar Putri of Puchong, the trails are shady and not too difficult for trekking, that is good for a moderate workout.

The authority of UPM, however, is not pleased and decided to close the trails recently due to following reasons:

a. disallowing trekkers to encroach into UPM's outdoor research areas as trekkers' presence are affecting their research work;

b. throwing of rubbish by inconsiderate trekkers when they trek.

If the Wawasan Trekkers Group (as in the report below) manage to persuade the authority of UPM in agreeing to reopen the trail, this time, we must be serious about their concerns: no straying into unauthorized boundaries, and we must also NOT go to the waterfall area. 

Here is a funny incident told to me by Edwin Goh, a regular trail runner friend, while doing trail running at Puchong Hill last year:

When the Iranian lecturers came to UPM for some exchange programmes, the UPM lecturers were very excited wanting to show their counterparts the prized possession – a pristine and tranquil small waterfall with clear water in their research centre of Ayer Hitam Forest Research, never mind that the name and the actual colour of the water do not tally.

When they happily arrived at the waterfall area, they were shock to see some trekkers were also there happily swimming in the pool, and some were having a jolly good time enjoying picnic by the pool … :-)

The waterfall at Air Hitam Forest Reserve

Do click here for online page in The Star - Hikers Seek Permission (28 May 2012)

Do click here for ... Hikers barred from entering Ayer Hitam Forest Reserve (dated 25 May 2012)

Do click here for photos and postings done by yours truly (KC) while doing trail running at Puchong Hill (scroll down the pages).

Posted by KC Leong

I Bought a Garmin FR 610

Yeah, I am pleased to inform that I bought a new Garmin Forerunner 610 – a sleek, A touchscreen GPS-enabled watch that supports customisable data screens and advanced training plans (on 27 May 2012).

Do click here for a comprehensive review by DC Rainmaker.

Do click here for the official Garmin website on FR610.

Two useful features:
.
a. Return to start location -- once I set the coordinates for my starting location, if I lost my way in the mountains while trekking, the GPS function has an arrow display in the watch to direct me back to the absolute starting point. Likewise, if one "trek" (walk) around a city in a foreign land, one would be able to return to the source location based on the direction indicated by the arrow.

b. Auto-changing time in different time-zone -- for example, if I go to Nepal for trekking which is 2.25 hours behind our Malaysian time, the watch would automatically adjust itself to Nepal time.

Features and Benefits:

Heart rate monitor
Automatic sync (automatically transfers data to your computer)
GPS (track location, direction, distance)
Garmin Connect™ compatible (online community where you analyze, categorize and share data)
Virtual Partner® (train against a digital person)
Virtual Racer™ (compete against other activities)
Auto Pause® (pauses and resumes timer based on speed)
Auto Lap® (automatically starts a new lap)
Auto Scroll (cycles through data pages during workout)
Advanced workouts (create custom, goal-oriented workouts)
Pace alert (triggers alarm if you vary from preset pace)
Time/distance alert (triggers alarm when you reach goal)
Vibration alert: (choose between alert tones and/or vibration alert)
Interval training (set up exercise and rest intervals)
Heart rate-based calorie computation
Training Effect (measures impact of an activity on your aerobic fitness)
Customizable screen(s)
Shock Resistant
Sport watch

Shown here is heart rate transmitter and the ANT+ USB stick (front).

Looks like I need to spend hours trying to familiarise with the high-tech functions and features of this watch.
 
Do click here to view photos in Picasa for much bigger displays.

Posted by KC Leong

Trekking with Zhineng Qigong Members

After postponing the trekking for two weeks, the Zhineng Qigong M'sia (or chi gong) members finally made it to Bukit Kiara on Saturday, 26 May 2012, together with two of my office colleagues.

Do click here to view photos taken by yours truly (KC Leong). In photo album, click Slideshow, hit F11 key for bigger displays.

(left) CH Tan, Lim BB, Cindy Lim, Grace Lim, friend of GanCH, GanCH, Michael Karn, Jezamine, Phoebe, Brenda, Tioh and yours truly (KC Leong)

For the preceding two mornings that rained at 4am, it reaffirmed that the sky would be a good weather on the day of trekking. Since it is the dry season these days, it is unlikely that it would continue to rain for three consecutive mornings – my prediction was true indeed.

With the trail running practice for the past few sessions, this time I am leading the team going through the many splits trails in Kiara Hills. We started the trekking at 8:00 a.m. and took about three hours to return to car park.

Many people are seen doing morning exercises at this tranquil park of Bukit Kiara

We entered the trail via Flying Carpet Trail and connect to 4K Trail and arrive at the cross-road area. As usual, I would surge forward and run backward doing my own trail running, always maintain visible contact with the group since there are many split trails in the hills.

At one split junction where I would have led the team to turn left, I then saw someone approaching me. To my surprise, he was Paul Lee. After enquiring from him, the correct way was to take the right turn (and not the left turn) in order to arrive at the cross-road area. So help was sent to me at the crucial moment.

Walking steadily uphill

We then took the Twin Peak Trail and went to the View Point area, descending the hills via Snakes and Ladders Trail. We later returned via 4K and Flying Carpet Trails, the same ways we started the journey.

At the Flying Carpet Trail, we could see that the trail was very well-maintained and clean; possibly, after last week’s maintenance work carried out by Paul Lee and other volunteers. BRAVO!

Even the mountain bikes are taking a breather here at the cross-road area

Just about to arrive at the car park, we saw a photographer and his friend were looking at the pond attentively. We were told that there were many baby frogs in the pond.  It was indeed a rare sight to see so many frogs in there.

Overall, it was an enjoyable trekking trip at Kiara Hill, though it was not too difficult effort amid much shady ground. The Zhineng chi gong members enjoyed the outing, so are my office colleagues – Michael Karn and Gan CH.

 Do you like this trekking outing? Yeah, all raising hands in unison ... :-)

 Petronas Twin Towers and KL Tower are visible from here ... Michael Karn

 A group photo at the View Point Area

 Same office colleagues of a local bank ... (left) LimBB, GanCH, Michael Karn, KC Leong

 Soon, when the gate is closed, there won't be any photos taken at this site

 Model posing with the age-old rubber trees with the unique colour of latex

 Walking along the many shaddy trails in Bukit Kiara hills

 Clean and neat trail at Flying Carpet Trail ... that must be the good work of Paul Lee and volunteers in their maintenance work. Front: Phoebe.

 

ah... there are many baby frogs in the pond, next to the car park

++++++++++ Note:

Persatuan Zhineng Qigong Malaysia - New Class Intake starting 6 June 2012. For more info, contact following laoshi (teacher or master):

CH Tan: 016-691 6525; Alex Lim: 012-287 3628; HJ Tan: 012-220 8699

Do click here for the official website of Zhineng Qigong (M'sia).

Posted by KC Leong

Bukit Kiara Trail Running

 (Left:) George, KC Leong, Simon Goh, Rupert Chen, KeanHui, Sue Teoh, Jessen Lee, Shen, Charles Frew, Jeff Ooi

It was a tough run this morning, Saturday 19 May 2012. Led by Jessen Lee, we were running quite fast in the many trails of Bukit Kiara (aka Kiara Hill). The group ran with gusto even at the start of the journey at Office Overtime Trails ... that sound like working hard for overtime ... :-) Needless to say, we were panting for breath later.

At Magic Carpet, we met Paul Lee and gang who were volunteering for the maintenance work at Magic Carpet Trail. After a brief conversion, the group continued the run.

Do click here to view photos taken by yours truly (KC). Click Slideshow and hit F11 key for bigger displays.

We ran quite a big loop too. From Magic Carpet Trail, we ran via 2K Trail and arrived at the cross-road. At this juncture, Jeff Ooi and George have to excuse themselves. We then connected via Apollo Trail to Equestrian Centre. At the Water Tank, we took Plan A and ran along Jalan Bukit Kiara (Sri Hartamas area) and connected to Plan C Trail; returning via Rumpy Pumpy and Boulder Trails. At this moment, another few more members dropped out from the group. Then we proceed via Twin Peaks Trail and return by Snakes and Ladders. Total duration: 2 hr 45 min.

At Magic Carpet Trail ... met Pau Lee and friends who are volunteering for the maintenance of the trails. Bravo!!

 The high fencing

Salomon XR CrossMax - I was wearing my good-looking, brand new Salomon trail running shoes. It was a very comfortable trail running shoes; the stability and traction were good. However, I notice that the feet were sweating a lot inside compared to the New Balance trail running shoes.

 Our macho male model, Charles, demonstrates what it is like separated by the intimating high-fencing when the project is completed.

 Walking alongside with the horse training ... Equestrian Centre

 Running along Jalan Bukit Kiara (Sri Hartamas area)

 The most energized jump award goes to Rupert (right).

When returning to carpark at 10:15 a.m., we met Raymond Ng who is going to give moral support to the volunteers (eg. Paul Lee) who are maintening the trails by bring a box of packet drinks for refreshment. Bravo!!

Do click here to view previous postings at Bukit Kiara.

Posted by KC Leong

My First Salomon Shoes

Salomon XR CROSSMAX combines the best elements of road running shoes with the attributes one expects from Salomon Trail running — stability, protection, traction and durability. Cushioning and light weight construction, the XR CROSSMAX is the training performance shoe for racers who incorporate paved surfaces and trails in their running regimen (from official website).

Do click here for more info of this shoes in the official website.

After using my New Balance (NB) trail running shoes for 1.5 year, it shows sign of wear out; maybe it is time to retire this trusted pair. This NB powered me for two attempts of Mount Kinabalu Climbathon (2010 and 2011) and countless rounds of trail trainings at the local hills.

I wanted to try Adidas trail running shoes as I like Adidas products. But when I went to the outlet at The Gardens, Mid-Valley, I was disappointed to see that they do not have much choice of trail running shoes, not even two months ago of my previous visits.

Needless to say, I went over to World of Sports a few shop lots away. Wow! There are so many types and models of Salomon trail running shoes – all with distinctive and colourful design. After enquiring, I decided to buy one pair and try. After all, my motto is "Don't go home without it – the new purchase" as oppose to "Don't leave home without it – The American Express Credit Card".

I see many of the serious trail runners are progressively changing to Salomon brand. Looks like I am following the bandwagon also.

 Different "flowers" and softer rubber as compare to normal road running shoes

I also bought a new pair of shoes for playing badminton. Quite interestingly, there are lots more choices at the outlets in Pertama Complex (along Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman; next to Sogo).

The brand for badminton is dominated by Yonex, just like the badminton rackets. In one of the shops, I asked for Yonex but the shop owner recommended another brand – Pro Ace – that is cheaper and almost as good.

Posted by KC Leong