Trekking to Everest Base Camp 2009

Are you interested to join the Team to take the challenge to trek to Everest Base Camp ("EBC") in October 2009? If YES, do contact me.
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Due to unforseen circumstances, three of the EBC team members are not able to join in October 2009 trip.
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I am pleased to inform that after liaising with Mr. Cheban (Trek and Tour Agent in Nepal) the trekking trip to EBC (5,500 m) will be scheduled from Sunday, 4 October 2009 for 17 days.

Fees

Here is the indicative pricing for the 17 days EBC trek in October 2009: Trekking fees + return flight (taking USD exchange rate as 3.6) = about RM 6,000

Minimum requirement for this trekking trip (and my contacts) ... please click here.
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EBC trek showing Mount Everest (nearest to top of photo frame) - photo by courtesy of AB Tan

Itinerary

Here is the schedule for 16 days trekking - KL/KTM/trek/KTM/KL.

Day 01 Kuala Lumpur fly to Kathmandu hotel transfer final shopping of trek, prepar the backpack and welcome dinner O/N hotel
Day 02 Kathmandu / Lukla (2800m.) by flight and trek to Phakding (2640 m) O/N lodge
Day 03 Phagding / Namche (3420m.) O/N lodge
Day 04 Namche / Khumjung (3620m.) Take a day tour around. O/N lodge
Day 05 Khumjung / Tengboche (3867 m.) O/N lodge
Day 06 Tengboche / Dingboche (4330 m.) O/N lodge
Day 07 Rest in Dingboche and take a day tour about 4 hour to climb a hill about 5000m. and back O/N lodge.
Day 08 Dingboche / Lobuche (4930 m.) O/N lodge
Day 09 Lobuche / Gorak Shep 5288 m.) have lunch and EBC (5,500 m.) and back to Gorak Shep O/N lodge
Day 10 Early in the morning visit Kalapathar (5545 m.), Back to Gorak Shep take breakfast and trek back to Pheriche (4243m.) O/N lodge
Day 11 Pheriche / Phorse (3840m.) O/N lodge
Day 12 Phorse / Monjo (2800m appx.) O/N lodge
Day 13 Manjo / Lukla O/N lodge
Day 14 Lukla/ Kathmandu by flight hotel transfer, take good shower and relax O/N hotel
Day 15 Free day and shopping, farewell dinner O/N hotel
Day 16 Kathmandu fly to Kuala Lumpur

Posted by KC,
EBC 2009 Trekking
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The Art of Chinese Painting

Written and drawn by Jayne Aw

Please click here to view paintings with titles in bigger frames (click SlideShow, F11 key)

My affection for nature has extended my interest into drawing. And I got myself signed up for a painting class 1.5 years ago, yes Chinese brush painting.

There are generally two techniques in Chinese brush painting, which are
• Meticulous - Gong-bi (工 笔), often referred to as "court-style" painting
• Freehand - Shui-mo (水墨) or "Xie yi" (写 意).
While the meticulous artists attempt to represent three-dimensional objects and to master the illusion of space, the freehand artists strive to freely express their feelings and to capture the inner spirit of their subject instead of describing its outward appearance.

One often sees things base on one's own perception. Learning perception through drawing allows a different and more direct kind of seeing, permitting one to see more fully and completely. This kind of seeing can marvelously enrich one's life, as one artist lyrically states, "to become a confidant of the natural world, to awaken your eye to the lovely language of forms, to express yourself in that language."
Pine Tree
I started with the painting of simple objects like flowers, trees, fruits etc. Though I am learning the freehand drawing, my teacher often comments that my drawing is "too perfect", for a flower truly looks like a flower, and a tree truly looks like a tree. Indeed my "Pine Tree" is just like an immaculately pruned bonsai!

Pine tree represents silence and majesty and detachment from life. Like a wise old man, it understands everything but it does not talk and therein lie its mystery and grandeur.
PeonyPeony is regarded as the "king of flowers" and the symbol of rich and happy man.

Not too long ago, my company had a fund raising campaign for the Sichuan and Myanmar disasters and I contributed two of my paintings, "Peonies" and "Rambutans" for the auction. Thanks to my compassionate and generous colleagues, these two paintings were bid at RM1,000 and RM500 respectively. And special thanks to those who joined in the fun to push up the prices.
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Landscapes
The beauty of landscapes in painting lies in the freedom and luxuriousness of the brush and the ink.

Chinese artists love to draw mountain for its enormity which has a cathartic effect of cleansing one's chest-full of foolish thoughts and worries. By looking at the mountain's enormity amidst nature's tranquility, one's heart truly opens up.
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If you can't visualize what I was drawing in these two paintings, bingo! Perhaps I have already mastered the technique of freehand drawing. My teacher was rather impressed with the 1st drawing which depicts a reflection of maple trees with a backdrop of mountain range, over a lake where a couple of fishing boats are retiring from the day's catch. And the yellow dots are the fireflies that illuminate an otherwise dark forest.

The 2nd drawing is of a setting sun over a range of distant mountains, with a flock of flamingos retiring at the river bank.

- The setting sun is immensely beautiful,
- Only it will soon be dusk.

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.Lotus vs. Water Lily
I never bother to know the difference between a lotus and a water lily until I learned to draw one. You too can find out the difference from these 2 pictures.

Lotus is like a noble gentleman, grows out of dirty water but is not contaminated by it. Chinese artists and poets love it for its beauty and purity. Functionally, every part of lotus is utilized. Its flower is enjoyed for its beauty; its root is used for drink and soup; its seed has many uses, while its leave is used for wrapping food.
Plum Blossom
Chinese New Year will not be Chinese New Year without plum blossom, which is regarded as a gentleman who has the inner strength and character to persevere under any condition. Here I have painted a branch of plum blossoms to usher in the 2009 Chinese New Year, and hope you too, will withstand this challenging year like a plum blossom.

From

Jayne Aw.

Posted by KC
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KL Towerthon - Part 5

Kuala Lumpur Towerthon Challenge 2009 ... Photos by courtesy of WENG; he participated in this event and ran with his camera. This is the final posting for KL Towerthon.

Weng
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click here for Album 6

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click here for Album 5

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click here for all photos albums

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click here for Part 1 to 5 of postings.
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Eng (left; from Singapore) and friend
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2,058 steps to reach the top of KL Tower
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Emerge at the finishing line
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KL Tower - can you see it? ... the shadow
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KL Petronas Twin Tower
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On the way down - via lifts
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Posted by KC

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KL Towerthon - Part 4

Kuala Lumpur Tower International Forest Towerthon Challenge 2009 ... Please click here to view photos by courtesy of JASON LEE. Stay tuned for Part 5 (final part) for photos taken by WENG.

Posted by KC

KL Towerthon - Part 3

Kuala Lumpur Towerthon 2009 ... Please click here to view photos by courtesy of JASON LEE. This photo album contains photos taken by using two Nikon DSLRs. These are mostly normal-angle shots. Stay tuned Part 4 and Part 5(final).
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The magnificent Kuala Lumpur Tower
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The participants will run up the 2,058 steps to the peak of the KL Tower
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Carol (left) posing in front of the giant poster. She will be going trekking to Annapurna Base Camp, Nepal.
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(L-R): ChongYF, TonyQ, Khoo, Jason, Kelly. Both Jason and Kelly are trekkers and this is the first time that they participate in road running/walking up steps event
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Jason Lee
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Posted by KC
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KL Towerthon - Part 2

Kuala Lumpur Tower International Forest Towerthon Challenge 2009... Please click here to view photos by courtesy of JASON LEE. Stay tuned for more photos...
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Click Slideshow (top left of page); press F11 key (expand photo).
Click here for instructions to navigate in photo album.

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A strong lady runner that take photos along the run
. Looking cool and not scared off by the 2058 steps in the KL Tower
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Looking strong and looking good
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Jason Lee

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Posted by KC

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KL Towerthon - Part 1

Event: Kuala Lumpur Tower International Forest Towerthon Challenge 2009
Date: 1 March 2009 @ 8:00 a.m.
Venue: KL Tower

(press shift key and ) Please click here to view photos by courtesy of JASON LEE. Stay tuned for more photos...
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When photo album, click Slideshow (top left of page); press F11 key (expand photo).

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The Kenyan runners are back with a vengeance
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Uphill Run before the actual climb of steps in KL Tower
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Yes! Looking good and strong
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A Long journey to KL Tower
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Michelle - keenly competing for women's top position
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Jessica

Jason Lee

Posted by KC