Training at Batu Caves

Countdown to Mount Everest Base Camp (EBC) trekking trip = 27 Days

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The Magnificent 7 (with PK Chan having the yow yeng pose)

This time, the training was scheduled at the 272 steps of Batu Caves. It was indeed a challenging endeavor to go up the steps in quick succession. It was tough in the first round with the calf muscles became stiff and tired very quickly. The descent was easier but one has to be careful as the platform for the steps are slightly smaller. After three loops, we could feel our legs were wobbling and we need a few more loops to stabilize them.
. (L-R): Sharon Tan, Shirley, yours truly KC, Rocky Dan, Mak, PK Chan, Carol, Jayne.

The team marches down the steps

There are three path way of steps leading to the caves. So Shirley Quah has a good approach to remember the number of loops one has completed: first path way for Loop #1; second path way for Loop #2; third path way for Loop #3. The fourth loop will repeat at first path way.
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When the training was done, the team went for refreshment at a nearby Indian stall selling plenty of fresh coconut drinks. It was indeed a nice experience sipping the refreshing drinks amid laughter and good camaraderie.

A majestic view from top
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KC, Mak, Carol, Jayne, Shirley, SharonTan, Rocky Dan, PK Chan
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The pigeons liven up the holy place

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Later, the team adjourned to the famous sang yee porridge restaurant (near Batu Caves) to have a sumptuous brunch.
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Posted by KC

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Rave Runs

I would like to share with all runners the free download of desktop wallpapers from Runner's World website which was discovered by Steven P5. Enjoy the beautiful running sites in the world. How I wish I could be running there too.

Click here for the thumbnail page; select and download.

Simply beautiful

Posted by KC

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Cheban in KL Matta Fair

The food at South Pacific Restaurant, Petaling Jaya (opposite State Cinema) is simply delicious. With a group of people who share common interest in trekking, the evening (Monday 31 August) was fantastic with good food amid good company. Of course, the main star for the gathering is Cheban, the EBC trekking agent from Nepal.
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Front (L-R): SC Yong, Lim, PK Chan, Cheban, Su
Back: Alexis, Jayne, Carina, KC Leong (Francis Chiong not in photo) ... Monday 31 August 2009
On table: Tafu, butter prawn, big cheesy crabs, fried chicken, steam fish, vegetable, dessert... hmmm, yummy yummy !!

Special thanks to PK Chan for choosing the restaurant and brought along a big bottle of red wine for this occasion. He passed by the restaurant in the afternoon and was told by the Captain that dining before 7:00 p.m. is entitled Happy Hours special rate. So Cheban and I arrived there before 7pm (direct from visiting Batu Caves) to enjoy the happy hours.

While distributing the red wine, one of the trekkers said she could not drink. Anyway, it is never late to train so that we could have more celebration after returning from Mount Everest Base Camp (start from 4 October for 17 days) with Khukri Rum, the oldest rum in Nepal, distilled by using only the freshest water from Mount Everest.

Cheban at Batu Caves just before the dinner
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One runner friend jokingly commented that: Sounds like you are an even better tour guide than Cheban by bringing him to so many places in Kuala Lumpur... :-)
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Reply from Cheban: Thank you so much for the wonderful evening. It was really so nice. Thank you all so much for everything that everyone did a lot for me. Hope I will be able to give a best possible hospitality in Nepal.

Climbing up the 272 steps

Currently, Cheban stays in Hotel De First Inn along Jalan Raja Laut, near to the T-junction leading to The Mall or PWTC. He stays there as he will be exploring and collaborating tour business opportunity during the Kuala Lumpur Matta Fair from 4 - 6 September.

If you have queries concerning trekking in Nepal (eg. Mount Everest and Base Camp, Annapurna Base Camp, etc), he can be contacted via local handphone number at: 012-668 0536. He will be going back to Nepal on Sunday 6 September 2009.
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Post-Annapurna Base Camp trekking trip in May 2008. Enjoying the Khukri Rum with Coke at the top floor of Hotel Norbu Linka, Kathmandu amid cool environment and warm frendship. L-R: Lili Ng, Yours truly KC, Weng, Rocky Dan (drink Coke only), Chiew Hong, PK Chan and Chooi Ling.
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Posted by KC

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Putrajaya Bridges

I am pleased to share with you a few stunning photos on bridges of Putrajaya by courtesy of Shukri.

Click here for Part 1

Click here for Part 2

The Seri Wawasan Bridge
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Seeing double -- calm and serene
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The magnificent structure

Yours truly on a photography outing with Shukri (on different day)

Intense focusing -- Shukri (with letter S on his white T-shirt)

Posted by KC

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Saga Hill and Apek Hill

A Wet, Wet Trekking Trip

Please click here to view photos take by yours truly, KC.
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"Reaching the peak already?" Sharon asked me albeit in disbelief after we had trekked up the hill for 30 minutes under the heavy rain on Sunday morning, 30 August 2009. Much to the amazement of many of the other hill walkers who were taking shelter under the few canopies in a clearing at certain height of Bukit Saga, our team were all equipped with rain gear save other than PK Chan, the seasoned marathon runner and EBC trekker, who trekked without rain gear with just the Camel hat to cover his head.

First group photo -- the stream is on the left of this photo frame. L-R: Sharon, ChooTS, Henry, Ng, Derrick (in purple), PK Chan, Cheban, OngWK, KC Leong, Yee Choi. Holding camera: Jamie.

After hearing Sharon's comments, I immediately checked with Derrick, the Team Lead for this Bukit Saga/Bukit Apek 'expedition' as it fell short of the 3-hour expectation. He assured me that more exciting terrain would be coming our way. After standing in the rain examining the other walkers for a while (at the same time, let them examine our ‘keng chow’ team also), we sped off into one of the trails again which looked like a maze to me as there were many trails leading to different locations.
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Crossing a slopping downwards stream -- Ong WK and Cheban, the EBC trekking agent from Nepal.

Rainy Morning
While waiting for the other team members to arrive at 7:15 a.m., I told Cheban, the Trekking Agent from Nepal who was here to join us in this trekking trip, that it would rain as the dark rain clouds were gathering at an unusual momentum. At 8:30 a.m., three minutes when the team started the trekking, it started to pour. Nothing could stop the team which was all charged up to trek up the hill. So the team proceeded despite the rain while donning rain gear. The starting trail of Bukit Saga was going uphill all the time. On the way up, we met many morning walkers who were hurriedly coming down due to the impending rain. A few were surprise to see us just starting the journey in heavy rain.

Cheban -- first time trekking in a tropical jungle with ease.

Waterfall

What Derrick said was true: the trail led us going up and down the hill in heavy rain. With the slippery ground and water gushing down the slope, it made ascent and descent really challenging. Donning rain gear, I could felt my T-shirt and pants were all wet – the sweat and water were all mixed together. We told Cheban that the rain is a good sign showing the presence of a very important person.

It is an achievement to trek thus under raining condition to stand in front of the waterfall. The water, instead of dropping from top, is now splashing from behind.

At one point, the team has to walk on a fallen log resting above a stream. With the rain, the surface was slippery that required much focus and steady landing to avoid falling into the steam. We were trilled when we finally saw flowing water cascading down the rocks. Yee Choi and Cheban proceed further and later told us that there were people further down. So the team proceeded further crossing another bigger stream. Since we were wet, we did not hesitate to cross the stream in knee-length deep in fast moving water. We were trilled to see quite a moderately high waterfall. At that very moment, I realized that I have been there before (in February 2009) using a different shorter route from Bukit Apek.

Another group photo at a lower and milder waterfall.
L-R: OngWK, PK Chan, Ng, KC Leong, ChooTS, Sharon, Derrick (in purple), Jamie, Cheban, Yee Choi.

After the first waterfall, we proceeded to another waterfall further down. So we managed to arrive at two waterfalls within one single trekking in a wet, wet, wet Sunday morning.

Later, we returned via Bukit Apek trail crossing over to Bukit Saga. We rested at the clearing where the team was admired by other trekkers in the morning. This time, the area was empty without people. We took another 30 minutes to go down the Saga Hill. Total trekking time: 4.5 hours. The team then proceeded to Taman Muda area in Cheras for lunch.

EBC Lady in wet suit -- Sharon
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Derrick

A few weeks ago, in anticipating of the trekking to Saga and Apek Hills, I have requested Derrick, my badminton kaki, to lead the team for a 3-hour trekking. He was most kind to take up the challenge and he has been surveying and trekking the connecting hills two weeks in advance to design the route that could last for three hours. To ensure everyone was happy (with much activity), he constantly asked the team whether we have enough of trekking. Otherwise, he could just lead the team into another longer trail. Thanks to Derrick for a task well done!
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Please click here to view previous posting on Apek Hill... scroll down the pages.

Please click here for another 7 hours of reverse 'expedition' on 21 September 2009.

Written by KC
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Putrajaya 12 Hours Walk

Josie Yap sent me the notification of 2nd Putrajaya International 12-Hour Walk 2009 the moment the event is published. Details are follows:

Event: 2nd Putrajaya International 12-Hour Walk 2009

Date: Saturday 12 December, 8pm

Venue: Putrajaya Boulevard.

She was participating in the 12-hour walk last year. Despite the tough challenge, it was such a fun event that she is eager to participate again this year.

To all trekkers, this is a highly recommended event by yours truly, KC. While most of you have climbed numerous mountains and hills, this is one event where you only walk on a plain – but for 12 hours.

For those who have doubts as to how to last or walk for 12 hours, the organizer actually provide hot red bean tong sui, fried bee hoon, sandwiches, power drink, water, etc and etc, enough to power you to walk for 24 hours. BRAVO to the organizer which is walkers-friendly and take care of details.

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Rocky Dan (left) with his signature mobile gas burner

As to where to sleep if you are sleepy, well, don't forget that being a trekker, you have your camping tent, camping utensils, mobile gas burner, etc. You just chose your territory next to the walking route. Imagine pitching your camping tent at the Boulevard of Putrajaya – the Administration Centre of the Government of Malaysia. Wow! What an experience! That would be the shortest route to your bed. Do remember to invite me if I am tired too.

If you must have your Maggi mee with hot Tom Yam flavour, you can set up your mobile gas burner and start boiling water and making the delicious bowl of noodle, just like what Rocky Dan use to do after arriving at the peak of Gunung-gunung.

Another good thing about this 12-hour walk is that you would have lots of time to chat with your friends which is usually not possible when you are participating in running event. You can even discuss (or argue) on the hottest political events taking place until the cows come home and you are probably still walking within the 12 hours limit.

Since all the participants are walking in a circuit, you can actually see all your friends or if you would like, make new friends. You can then chat from Friend A until Friend Z. I am sure 12 hours would seem like 2 hours.
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The late Michael Jackson in The Thriller

In the early hours, it is recommended that you should continue talking to your friends or even repeatedly use the same ice-breaker scripts to any new friends such as “It is very hot this evening.” If you don’t, and sleepiness creeps in, you may walk like a zombie. Of course, this year, the organizer may play Michael Jackson’s top hits – The Thriller – and a group of participants in the correct condition and in perfect timing (early hours) may want to dance to the tune.
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The dancing concept is something similar to Bollywood movies where immediately after one ‘keng cheong’ scene, we have one group of dancers – don’t know where do they come from – happily dancing around. Of course, in the 12-Hour Walk, all dancers will be the registered walkers and there will be no phantom or ghostly participants.

As to what is the feeling when one completes the race; Well, click at the link below to my blogsite and scroll down the pages where you see the expression of two girl participants (in purple and white T-shirts); photo by courtesy of WENG.

BTW, many months later (after the event), Sasa and Leng (both new friends) responded to the Mount Everest Base Camp (EBC) article in The Star newspaper in May 2009. Click here. When I requested for something for ease in identification, they asked me to go to KC and the Sunshine Runners blosite at certain URL address. Hey, that is my blogsite.... Nervously, I probe on and realised that the photos that I have selected (because they look good) for the 12-hour Putrajaya walk, they were Leng (B467) and Sasa (B466).

In jubilation – Leng and Sasa when completing the Putrajaya 12-Hour Walk 2008
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Click here for the previous postings published by yours truly (KC) on the Putrajaya 12-hour Walk (scroll down the pages).

Click here for official website

Note: This posting is written with humour, indented to amuse the readers; at the same time, promote the event. However, if it generates negative feeling, my apology.
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Written by KC
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Cheban in Malaysia

We are quite excited to welcome Cheban, the EBC Trekking Agent from Nepal, who came to participate in the MATTA fair in promoting Nepal tourism. For your info, the MATTA fair in Ipoh was held from 21 – 23 August 2009; Kuala Lumpur MATTA fair would be from 4 – 6 September 2009.

Saturday 15 August, 9 pm - I could not believe it: many smaller hotels in Petaling Street and Raja Laut areas were full house!! After the eighth attempt, we finally got one in Jalan Raja Laut. Reason for Cheban to stay there: the Putra Bus Station (to Kota Baru) is at The Mall (or opposite PWTC) and not in Puduraya. He would be going to Kota Baru the following day.

Savouring the King of fruits: (L-R) PK Chan, Lili Ng, Cheban, Tai. Photo courtesy of PK Chan.

Report from PK Chan (an EBC 4Oct2009 Team Member):

I fetched Cheban from a hotel opposite PuduRaya Bus station, Kuala Lumpur yesterday evening (20 August). He checked in early morning following a fruitful visit to Kota Baru where he met up the group who went to EBC in May 2009. He informed that the group of 6 successfully scaled EBC except one who suffered some mild altitude sickness.

I brought him to a vegetarian restaurant at Jaya 1 for dinner. Lili Ng and Tai (former Annapurna Base Camp trekkers in May 2008) joined us on last minute invite since they lived nearby.

Guess what, we later went to the famous durian stalls in SS2. Cheban was courageous enough to have durian for the first time in his life! (Attached photos from my mobile; sorry poor shots.)

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Cheban, the EBC trekking agent from Nepal who come to Kuala Lumpur to participate in the MATTA fair in promoting Nepal tourism

Response from yours truly, KC (EBC Team Lead):
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Thanks Pk for your kind effort. The photos are well taken that look like a tourism campaign promoting the King of Fruits with a model engaged from Nepal set in a misty environment ... :-)
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Of course, other than the few leng chai gentlemen, it is good to see our gorgeous Lili Ng again.
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Cheban, I hope you have a good time in Kelantan visiting our serene seaside which is just the opposite of Mount Everest. So you actually travel from the mountain top to the ocean deep (okay, could be just the surface)... :-)
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Do inform us if you like the durians as it is in season. Eating durian is like drinking Guinness stout: you may not like it the first time but given time, you would savour the unique aroma and taste of this fruit. Cheers!
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Reply from Cheban:
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It was really so nice and a wonderful evening having durian and dinner with PK Chan, Grace, Tai and Lili. My visit to Ipoh MATTA fair was not much interesting and not what I was expected. There were very few companies around. Tomorrow I am coming back to Kuala Lumpur again. Will see you all soon. With kind regards, Cheban.
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More about Cheban ... click here.
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Cheban's trekking company in Nepal ... click here.
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About ABC (Annapurna Base Camp) trip in May 2008 ... click here
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Posted by KC

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