The Legendary Mau San Wong

Let me share with you a few funny incidents on the recent Qigong Retreat at Pine Resorts of Fraser's Hill (23-25 Nov 2012):

 

One member commented that she is impressed with the relentless effort of me in taking photos for the Qigong Association – from start until end. Glad to hear some kind words and positive response. I have changed some camera settings this time. When using flash, I changed the Colour Control setting, White Balance shoot in absolute Kelvin, Exposure Compensation, ISO, Shooting Mode, Metering Mode, etc. The results: much better looking pictures. But when come to changing environments, there are many settings need to revert; and at times, I forgot one or two.

 

While travelling up to Fraser's Hill on last Thursday, 22 Nov (a day preceding the event), the organizing committees have lunch at Bukit Beruntung town. Then they bought Mau San Wong (Musang King) durian from an old man and his wife. I have not seen Musang King durian before; they are big fruits and very difficult to open. Seeing the elderly couple, so I helped the seller to ply open the Musang King durian by using my two hands. The durian slipped and fell from table top, nearly hitting my legs. The old man was squatting next to me opening another durian. Luckily, the Musang King did not hit his almost bald head. But the thorns injured my finger and my wrist on my right hand.

 

Looking at the deep yellow texture of the flesh, judging from the number of hands wanting to have a share of it, and the facial expression beaming with excitement, we know this must be a prized discovery – the Mau San Wong!

 

While the chi gong members were eating durians at Pines Resort, I was busy taking photos. The moment that Mau San Wong is mentioned, I could see members’ eyes were wide opened in excitement with increased in movement looking for the fruit. Such is the severe attraction of this prized fruit. Then one chi gong member passed me one seed of flesh; looking at the deep yellow texture, I was delighted and I thought it was Musang King. Frankly, I have not eaten Musang King durian before. But it turned out to be a D24 durian!

 

During the Opening Address by Mr Liow KH laoshi, The President of the Association of Zhineng Qigong (M'sia), he even included a little airtime in his speech of his concern of eating too much durian during the qigong retreat. For the mixture of chi and gas in the process of chemical reaction in the stomach, it would be potent when the gas was leaked out from the bodies into the enclosed Lectures Hall.
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When I returned home (on Sunday, 25 Nov), I started putting medical plasters on the injured areas. When taking bath, not wanting to wet them, so I raised my right hand while taking shower. Then I realised that it was similar to John Travolta's famous Saturday Night Fever dance act. Later, when I informed the organizing committee (via email), one of them quipped: this is how John Travolta got the idea of the dance act when he opened durian and injured his index finger.

 

Do click here to read a posting "Powered by the King of Fruits" to enhance stamina in running.

 

Do click here to read all postings on durians.

 

Do click here to read all postings on chi gong retreat at Fraser's Hill.

 

 

Posted by KC Leong

Zhineng Qigong Retreat at Fraser's Hill (Part 3)

Zhineng Qigong (M'sia) Retreat at Pines Resort of Fraser's Hill: Sunday (25 Nov; final day). Activities: qigong practice, groups photos, Q&A by members, Chi Tunnelling.

 

The retreat session ended at 11:00 p.m.; check-out of Pines Resort at 11:30 a.m.; adjourn to Ulu Yam Baru for lunch at 1:15 p.m. savouring the famous loh mee.

 

Do click here to view photos courtesy of yours truly (KC Leong). When in photo album, click Slideshow and hit F11 key to view in uncompressed displays.

 

 Sunday morning 7:00 a.m. (25 November 2012) ... final day of retreat at Pines Resort, Fraser's Hill. It is a fine weather this morning; the air is fresh and cool. While practising, the chipping sound of birds is heard. Probably, they are wondering why the present of so many people.

 Light-hearted moment – this is how group photos are being taken before you get to see the neat and tidy arrangement with serious pose that follows ...

 Members from USJ Centre

 Receiving certificates of attendance by laoshi of respective centres, who will then distribute certificate to each participant.
(left): Liow Kim Heng laoshi, Lu Lin Kun laoshi and Lim BB laoshi

 Long practice awards

 Chi Tunnelling session

 Tunnel of strong chi flux

 Closing address by Liow Kim Heng laoshi, The President of the Association of Zhineng Qigong (M'sia)

 Time to dismantle the props ... Brenda, Lim BE, Cindy Lim and Benz.

 Thumbs Up for the approval of a successfully staged event ... Lu Lin Kun laoshi (left)

 Descending the hill to Ulu Yam Baru for lunch ... at the restaurant

  The famous loh mee

 A toast to Lu Lin Kun laoshi and Zheng Bai Ling laoshi! Cheers! Cheers!
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Do click here for Part 2.

Do click here for all qigong activities involving yours truly (KC).

Posted by KC Leong

Zhineng Qigong Retreat at Fraser's Hill (Part 2)

Zhineng Qigong (M'sia) Retreat at Pines Resort of Fraser's Hill: Saturday (24 Nov 2012) – a full day of activities starting from 7:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m.

 

Programme: qigong practice, lectures, break-up sessions, trekking (4 – 6 p.m.; lead by yours truly), leisure activities, lectures, experimental session on Hunyuan energy, etc. 

 

Do click here to view photos courtesy of yours truly (KC Leong). When in photo album, hit F11 key for uncompressed displays.

 Saturday morning (24 November 2012) at 6:45 a.m.
A new day has dawned ... notice the sea of clouds hovering at lower ground

 Qigong practice at tennis court of Pines Resort amid cool and fresh mountainous air

 Lead by Zheng Bai Ling laoshi

 Benz Ng on audio and video, assisted by Samantha Tee on updating presentation slides

 Zheng Bai Ling laoshi leading the participants for another round of qigong practice (Module 2)

 Lectures and demonstration of Straight Legs Relaxation method

 Mr Yew KT, Pines Resorts Manager, assisting in serving food together with Caryn Keong (left) and Brenda Lee

 Emphasizing a point on the lectures of external and internal Hunyuan energy

 Responding to humour amid serious stuff

 Experimental session on Hunyuan energy: twisting of metal tea spoons.
Lu Lin Kun laoshi examining the bent/twisted spoons; he is looking for twisted ones which are much difficult to do.

Mind over matter in twisting a metal spoon - The interesting thing is that it is tough to bend this metal spoon, let alone twisting it

 

 

To be continued - Part 3 ... click here

 

Do click here for Qigong Retreat Part 1
 

 

Posted by KC Leong

Zhineng Qigong Retreat at Fraser's Hill

Zhineng Qigong (M'sia) Retreat at Pines Resort of Fraser's Hill: 22 Nov 2012 (Thursday) - preparation of venue; 23 Nov (Friday) - arrival of participants and start of lectures and practice sessions.

 

Do click here to view photos courtesy of yours truly (KC Leong). When in photo album, hit F11 key for uncompressed displays.

 Pines Resort of Fraser's Hill

 Arriving at the venue one day earlier in setting up the lecture hall ... Cindy, Brenda, Caryn, Benz, Lim BB, Grace, TanCH and yours truly (KC).

 Hard at work to decorate the hall with props and and to ensure the equipment is working in order 

 23 Nov 2012 (Friday) - Arrival of members for the weekend retreat; members from USJ Centre

Lunch is served

Going to the lecture hall

 Fraser's Retreat Committee ... yours truly (KC) at right most.
(left, back) Tan CH, Liow KH, Grace Lim, Alice Cheong, Teng CW, Chuah CK;
(left, front) Benz Ng, Cindy Lim, Lim BB, Caryn Keong, Amy Leong.

Lectures facilitator - Lu Lin Kun laoshi from China

Group practice of qigong at the cool outdoor of Fraser's Hill

Exotic gastronomic delights – a special treat to the branded durians such as D24, D88, Musang King (mau san wong)

Looking at the deep yellow texture of the flesh, judging from the number of hands wanting to have a share of it, and the facial expression beaming with excitement, we know this must be a prized discovery – the Mau San Wong!

Samatha Tee (2nd from left) and her family members

Lu Lin Kun laoshi illustrating the finer point of qigong practice

Participants listen attentively

Looking for the right balloon - each participant is to burst the balloon bearing his/her own name in eliminating any sickness or illness (that has been transmitted via chi into the balloon)

To be continued ... Part 2... click here

Do click here for all activities on Zhineng Qigong (Malaysia) involving yours truly (KC Leong).

Do click here to visit the official website for Zhineng Qigong (Malaysia).

Do click here for 2011 workshop retreat at Goh Tong Jaya (Genting Highlands).

 

Posted by KC Leong

Learn to Sing Well

A few of the Zhineng Qigong members (USJ Centres) meet at Mr Gan's house on Saturday evening, 17 November 2012 for another session of insightful learning on how to sing better.

 

One of the important abilities in order to sing well, according to Gan, is to breath from the diaphragm – not the lung or the upper body.

 

A singer needs to control the air when expelling, and breathing from the diaphragm gives one more air to work with. This is using the dantian chi from the abdominal energy, which Qigong practices also emphasize on.

 

Do click here to view photos courtesy of yours truly (KC). When in photo album, hit F11 key for larger displays.

 

 

 Left: Brenda Lee, Grace Lim, Gan, Tioh, Cindy Lim, Linda, Annie, LimBB

 

According to Gan, if one practises running – be it long distance running or run until panting for breath – one would be able to strengthen dantian chi.

 

So looks like running, qigong and singing are all inter-connected. One discipline strengthens the chi, the other harnesses it while singing uses it. Unfortunately, to many of us, to sing well is a dream; and “breathing from the diaphragm” is like a mystery.

 Serious stuff interwoven with humour

Gan demonstrated in singing this difficult-to-sing Chinese classic – Huang Zhao Jin – by using the head voice (that resonate in the head or nasal area of the singer), as opposed to resonating in the throat or chest (the natural singing voice). So his voice sounded like female but could sing much higher note/pitch. An example of singing by using head voice is something like the song “Staying Alive” by Bee Gees.

 

On a lighter note, one of the qigong members asked me whether I did request to sing Hotel California. Ha ha ha … that would be asking for trouble again. Do click here to read.

 Individual demonstration and assessment by Mr Gan ... Brenda Lee

 Mode and expression in accordance to the song ... Tioh’s turn

  Tan loashi ... yeah, your turn to sing ... :-)

Gan demonstrating in singing Huang Zhao Jin, a tough Chinese classic, by using head voice … so his voice sounded like female but able to sing with much higher note/pitch.

Special thanks to Gan, one of the chi gong members from USJ, for his untiring effort and patient in teaching us – free of charge – how to sing well. BRAVO! Being a successful businessman, singing is Gan’s hobby. He travels to Banting to learn singing from higher sifu and have occasional competition sessions among his group.

 

 

Do click here for the first singing session.

 

 

Posted by KC Leong

FRIM Botani Trail Runnig

"I would like to join the trekker group," DC Tan responded to the email invitation when I organized the trekking event at FRIM for chi gong members on 10 Nov. Being an active road/trail runner, she would find the pace too slow; and it would be a tough situation for me in directing trekkers and trail runners along the intended directions.

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I suggested that I shall hold another trail running event on a different day, and the Awal Muharram Holiday on Thursday, 15 November 2012 would be a good choice.

Do click here to view photos courtesy of yours truly (KC).

Hit F11 key for bigger displays.

A group photo at Taman Botani side of FRIM

 

 

Arriving at Taman Botani carpark of FRIM at 7:15 a.m., I was pleasantly surprised to see the presence of quite a number of runners invited through emails and Facebook. Almost at that moment, my handphone started to ring as a few ended up at FRIM Main Entrance, which is about 2km away.

Runner friends that I could remember: Chong YF, George Siew, Eldon Chew, DC Tan, Cheryl Tham, Ray Lee, Leng Heong Wai, PK Chan, Shinya Sasaki, Annie Lim, Lai Kuan, Patrick Yee, Christy Bong, Zareen Chua, Ken Chia, Edwin Goh, Winnie Wong, Maybel Chung, etc. 

At Salem High Country Hill

For a group size of almost 35 outdoor enthusiasts, taking group photos was fun and full of laughter. I quipped that we have engaged a photography director from Hollywood  – DC Tan – as to how we should pose differently, while I just assumed the role of a cameraman.

When it was time to run, I informed the fast runners such as Ray Lee, Ken Chia, Shinya Sasaki (yeah, a Japanese runner), Edwin Goh  – all have not been to this side of FRIM before –  that they could run any direction they wish but must backtrack in order for the group to move as one.
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The other team leads who were assisting the sub-groups were Chong YF, George Siew, Leng HW, and PK Chan.

Nothing can dampen their spirits ... A cheerful lot, always smiling, never mind if rain or shine.

Leng, "Better use umbrella la, after sick how?"
Patrick, "Never mind wan, wet wet la." ... :-)
(just for a laugh, not actual dialogue)

We arrived at the clearing where one track leads to Sungai Buloh Hospital, the other track leads to Steroid Hill. After checking, Edwin Goh said the fast runners went to the Sungai Buloh Hospital way. A Mount Kinabalu Climbathon achiever, immediately, Edwin Goh sprang into action to give chase and shouted at the top of his voice.

I was not too worried as Ray Lee was with them. Dubbed the King of the Mountains, Ray Lee would be able to manoeuvre around in such a wide track. He has been very active in trekking up and camping at the tough mountains in Malaysia.

Eventually, we all congregated at the big bolster at the beautiful Salem High Country Hills for more group photos.

At Mountain Bike Track

The rain – The evening before, it was scattered rain here or there as opposed to the hearty downpour. In the morning, there were quite a lot of clouds, and it even rained when we travelled to FRIM. While we descended Salem High Country Hill, it started to rain heavy again. So the group went to a pondok seeking for shelter. Later, Leng’s group of trekkers arrived donning raincoats. I heard someone quipped that “those wearing raincoats please don’t come into the pondok.” 

At Malay Tea House which is closed for renovation ... performing Bollywoooood dance?

 

After waited for about 20 minutes, we resumed trail running while still in slight drizzle. We ran via Pacat Trail passing by a makeshift shelter of Orang Asli en route to the reservoir and Malay Tea House. We were thinking to have a cup of tea at the Malay Tea House but it was still closed for renovation for many months already.

Returning via Mountain Bike Track ... DC Tan

 

Returning journey – the group returned via Mountain Bike Track. I cautioned the group that there are many leeches in this track. So to avoid attracting leeches, one has to run fast. Immediately, I could see the group was running with much more gusto though a few were feeling tired. Previously, one of my friends joked that it was because there was no leeches, the group walked slowly.

Sunshine after the rain

 

Ken Chia  - Along the Mountain Bike Track on the returning journey, when I did a backtrack run, I was surprised to see Ken Chia was with the last runner. He is a young and fast runner. He felt pain in his left knee that rendered him not able to run. According to him, he is participating in the coming Penang Bridge International Marathon in three days' time (18 Nov) -- taking part in the full marathon!

Overall, it was truly a fun-filled and enjoyable outdoor run at FRIM together with all the good company.

 

 Taman Botani Garden of FRIM

 Hakka Lui Char rice (a vegetarian dish) at Bandar Menjalara Kepong ... taste good!

After taking shelter for about 20 minutes for the rain to subside, we proceed with the run again. However, I forgot to start the recording (of the Garmin watch) for about 2-3 kilometers.

Total distance could be around 12km, and running time is about 2 hr 45 minutes.

Special thanks to Grace Tabitha Lim, previously a Research Officer of FRIM, who showed me the trails at FRIM in one of the trail running events. She is now migrated to USA.

 

Posted by KC Leong