MotoGP Sepang

Ducati - the champion for the 2009 test run at Sepang

The timing was perfect. Shukri bought a brand new Nikon dSLR D90 a few days prior to this event. So he has a field day testing out his new toy from 5 - 7 February 2009 at Sepang F1 Circuit.

The newly designed Nikon DX-format CMOS image sensor with 12.3 effective megapixels delivers the performance as claimed, much to Shukri's delight of owning this jewel. D90 camera body only is retailed at RM 3,600 !!
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Everything is fast compared to his previos model of Nikon dSLR: focusing, processing, frames-per-second, data transfer rate (writing to SD storage).

Please click here to view photos by courtesy of Shurki.

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Need help to navigate in Picasa Web Photo Album? click here... remember to press F11 key to expand photos.
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Extracted texts: Sepang International Circuit Hosts The Opening Round Of 2009’s 800cc MotoGP Testing
05 February 2009, By Sepang International Circuit

MotoGP premier class riders are back in action! This time testing their new blazing rides in Malaysia starting from today February 5, 2009. Sepang International Circuit will host three days of this season’s opening MotoGP testing, featuring the teams’ all-new bikes, alluring new paintwork and all the star riders are up and set to thrill the weekend crowd.

Fastest at the final test of 2008 and winner of last year´s race at Sepang International Circuit, reigning World Champion Valentino Rossi returns from an off-season of training, relaxation and rallying appearances to resume his work with the Yamaha M1 team. Rossi is joined for a second year in the Fiat Yamaha team by Jorge Lorenzo and, whilst the Italian has declined the opportunity to change his racing number, his Spanish counterpart will be switching from 48 to 99 as of this test.
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Sepang Circuit Test Concludes With Stoner On Top
07 February 2009, By motogp.com

As the first MotoGP test of 2009 concluded it was Ducati's Casey Stoner who sat proudly at the top of the Sepang timesheets.

Ducati Marlboro's Casey Stoner set the pace on the third and final testday in Malaysia on Saturday, registering a hot lap of 2'01.043 on the last of his 38 turns of the Sepang circuit to keep him ahead of the pack.

.MotoGP Official Test at Sepang Combined Timing of Session 1 (5Feb), Session 2 (6 Feb) and Session 3 (7 Feb):

1 Casey STONER Ducati MarlboroTeam (2:02.038 2:01.483 2:01.043)
2 Valentino ROSSI Fiat Yamaha (2:02.324 2:01.626 2:01.137 +0.094 +0.094)
3 Loris CAPIROSSI Team Suzuki (2:01.869 2:01.555 2:01.262 +0.125 +0.219)
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Shukri in action - standing on a fork-lift for the necessary unobstructed angle

Click here for previous postings on happenings in Sepang F1 Circuit (scroll down the pages)
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About Nikon D90: click here and here
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About MotoGP at Sepang: click here
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Posted by KC

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KL Marathon

Clinging on to KLIM

The marathon runners are really excited that this year's KL International Marathon ("KLIM") is being staged by Standard Chartered Bank, which has shown high standards in organizing similar marathons in Singapore, Hong Kong, Bangkok and Nairobi.

Octagon, a division of CMGRP (M) Sdn. Bhd and Standard Chartered Bank Malaysia Berhad is organizing the Standard Chartered KL Marathon 2009 which will be held on Sunday 28 June 2009.

There could well be two international marathons in Kuala Lumpur this year as the Federal Territory Amateur Athletic Association (FTAAA) is adamant on staging its flagship event - KL International Marathon. (from NST Online, 6 February 2009).

Click here to read (extracted by KP and Gang's blogiste): FTAAA to Organise Own Marathon
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Kuala Lumpur International Marathon starting/finishing point

On the other hand, The Federal Territory AAA (FTAAA) have only themselves to blame for the quagmire they’re in. They were complacent and this has resulted in their losing their only source of income — the KL International Marathon. FTAAA raked in almost RM150,000 in entry fees when they organised the marathon and that money was used to run their programmes. (from Malay Mail, 6 February 2009).

Click here to read (extracted by KP and Gang's blogsite): Digging Their Own Grave

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The common complaints among the marathon runners are:

1. The same running route for full marathon has been around for many years (and FTAAA is not improving it)

2. The stretch heading to Cheras roundabout and another stretch near General Hospital are always choked with heavy traffic (the exhaust fume is bad for runners and FTAAA is not improving it)

3. At the starting area, the middle-aged lady announcer does not qualify as a professional to lead such an important event (does not seem to lift up the mood of the event; instead, focus on petty issues, and FTAAA is not improving it).

Let us hope that the above shortcomings are being looked into by the new organizer.

Click here to read other postings on previous KLIM (scroll down the pages).

Posted by KC
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Where are the rural folks?

Beruas New Village on CNY Day 1 (26 January 2009)
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New village community hall
. The hall is named after Dato’ Seri Lim Keng Yaik (of Gerakan) who is formerly the MP for Beruas Parliamentary Constituency (in Perak)
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Beruas town on CNY Day 1 (leading to Taiping direction)
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(opposite direction) Leading to Ipoh
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The photos above were taken in Beruas town in Perak at 3pm on Day 1 of Chinese New Year ("CNY") - Monday 26 January 2009. Do you notice anything unusual? Yes, where are the rural folks and teenagers on that auspicious day?

I went back to my hometown for the CNY celebration. There is a phenomenon that is slowly taking place – the rural-urban migration. Every year, I see fewer friends come back to their hometown to celebrate the CNY.

When I was young, the new village and the town areas are full of people with a host of activities during CNY – people moving around and visiting from houses to houses in joyous mood.

On the other hand, I do hear friends from Kuala Lumpur who say that there are more people in Kuala Lumpur during CNY days. In future, people travel on CNY days may not be going back hometown; instead, more people are traveling to the holiday resorts with the long holiday break.

I have a nephew who has just completed his Form 5 education. When I chatted with him, I realized that there is no opportunity for further studies and no job opportunity either. He has to leave Beruas! So, in most small towns, only the young ones (before Form 5 level) and young once (elderly folks) are left behind.

One day, when my parents are too old to live there and decided to join their children in Kuala Lumpur, my friends in Beruas would take over this task of continuing the saying: “sigh… lesser folks are coming back to celebrate in the CNY”.

Written by KC

Pine Tree Trail Trekking - Part 2

Please click here to view photos taken by yours truly (KC).
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The karate kids? Alexis and Tony ... :-)
. With the steps and ropes constructed by the local municipal, trekking at treacherous stretches are much easier now
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Weng in action with a Nikon SLR D80
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Yap taking macro shots with his new Nikon SLR D300 while CK Tan (Pacesetters Area Team Leader of Putrajaya) looks on
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Relaxing at the peak ... Shiek with his tatoo
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Bus stop in the middle of Pine Tree Trail? L-R: Ginnie, Alexis, Ann, Rose, CK Tan, Trina
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Yeah! We made it!!! Lim ML, Ivan Tong, Jayne, Chiam
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Rose - this is how we refresh (with limited water) after trekking
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A sumptuous meal + Loh Sang ... Excellent choice of food ordered by Rose
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Posted by KC

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Pine Tree Trail Trekking

(press Shift key and ) Click here to view photos by courtesy of WENG. Stay tune for more photos later ....

The main team consisting of 33 trekkers. Click link above for bigger frame of the photos. Remember to press F11 key (to expand display).
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A briefing conducted by The Mountain Sifu, Tony Q
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Latest time to descend is 2pm ... trekkers listen attentively to the Do's and Don'ts while trekking .
At the peak of Pine Tree Trail, Fraser's Hill
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The Everest Base Camp October 2009 Team. L-R: KC, Yap, Weng, Dr. Lily, Yee Choi, Jayne, Alexis, PK Chan. Another 10 more members are not here.
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Happy Loh Sang (Table A)... Lim GT (in yellow) and Shiek (in black)
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Yes, Loh! Loh! Loh! The higher the loh sang, the higher we shall trek the next mountains (from Table B)

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On Sunday 8 February, a total of 33 trekkers were eagerly and excitedly went trekking to Pine Tree Trail, Fraser’s Hill. The other main agenda (other than trekking) was to go for a Loh Sang dinner at the famous loh mee restaurant in Hulu Yam Lama.

February 8 was chosen as the following day is a Thaipusam holiday; it is the 14th day of the Chinese New Year and of course, ‘8’ (Fatttt) sounds prosperous and auspicious during CNY period.

The trekkers travelled in seven cars from Kuala Lumpur to Fraser’s Hill. Before arriving at Fraser’s Hill, most of the members went for a breakfast in Kuala Kubu Baru town amid a cool environment.

This time, PK Chan and I were wearing the Casio Protrek watches. click here. Interesting fact: The starting ground is 1,275 meters above sea level. However, the peak is measured at 1,420 meters. Both PK Chan’s and my watches gave same measurement. Despite all the going uphill and downhill, there is only a vertical elevation of 145 meters !! At times, after trekking for one hour, the measurement is below the starting altitude.

This joke was told to me by one of the trekkers while trekking: A few trekkers, after a long and tiring trekking journey, asked their Orang Asli Mountain Guide how much further to the peak. The mountain guide said it is only one cigarette’s time away. The group was excited and energized after hearing that as it won’t take much time to finish one cigarette. So they watch their mountain guide smokes his cigarette to gauge the timing. To their disappointment, after a few puffs, the mountain guide put off the cigarette, and resumes smoking much later.

Here is the useful information:

Start journey: 6:00 a.m. from Kuala Lumpur
Arriving at the Gap or Guide House: 9 a.m. (with 30 minutes breakfast at KKB)
Start trekking at 10 a.m.
Ascent: 2.5 hours to the peak (with the steps done the local council, trekking time is shorter by 15 minutes.
Descent: start time was 1 p.m. and it requires 2.5 hours also.
Pass guide house: 4 to 4:30 pm. (single file for traffic going downhill)
Dinner at Hulu Yam Lama: 6pm.

Click here for other postings on Pine Tree Trails.

Posted by KC

GE30K Run - Part 5

Greet this new year with enthusiasm, a sense of humour and a zest of life! Wishing you and your family a Happy Chinese Niu Year 2009, with all the blessings of happiness, good health, good fortune and success!

The next posting will resume in two weeks' time. I shall 'sou kung' (stop work) for the CNY celebration. Taking such a long rest would akin to those construction (or general) workers where they would take this opportunity to take a 15-day rest to celeberate in this auspicious festive season. New year cards are received from ChewBC.
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Niu = Ox in Mandarin
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Event: GE30K (Great Eastern 30km) Run 2009
Date: Sunday 18 January 2009
Venue: Lake Gardens, Kuala Lumpur
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Click here to view photos of album #5
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Click here to view photos of album #1
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This is the final posting of this event. All photos are by courtesy of Jason Lee.
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click here for postings: part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4
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click here for KC&SR album 2, album 1
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click here on tips how to navigate in photo albums.
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I hope that you enjoy viewing the photos of runners in action taken by Jason Lee, the skillful and committed photographer.

I would like to do another posting on Top 10 most beautiful (or expressive) women runners, and another Top 10 most handsome (or macho) men runners of this GE30k Run. However, due to lack of time, I shall do it after Chinese New Year.

Meantime, please click here to view Top 10 most beautiful women runners of GE30km Run in 2008.
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Amanda - a feeling of elation when completing the run
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Yeah! I made it too!
. Nice hair
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Jason Lee

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Posted by KC

GE30K Run - Part 4

Event: GE30K (Great Eastern 30km) Run 2009... Please click here to to view photos (album #1a) by courtesy of Jason Lee... stay tuned for two more photo albums.

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Need help to navigate in photo album? click here
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Finishing point of Great Eastern 30km Run
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Michele Tan keenly competing with a Kenyan runner
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Cool Runner
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Looking stylish
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Looking strong
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Bleeding chest? No, the red patch is the flower
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Posted by KC

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