Melawati Hill

It was indeed a cool morning after hours of morning rain. Instead of the planned venue of trekking at Bukit Tabur on Sunday morning, 6 September, we decided to walk up a hill nearby – Melawati Hill - lead by Rocky Dan. The reason being after the rain, the trail at Bukit Tabur could be slippery which makes trekking up the hill difficult.

While standing at the peak of Bukit Tabur, Melawati Hill is clearly visible and is a much smaller hill. The tar road leading to the top of Melawai Hill is newly paved with another layer of tarmac. With the gradual slope, it is most ideal for training to run up and down the hill.

L-R: KC, Agnes Tan, Francis Chiong, Alexis, Rocky Dan, Siti, Ikhwan

When we were walking up and down the Melawati Hill, almost all of the Chinese morning walkers know Rocky Dan. Rocky Dan was pleased to introduce that "These are my Mount Everest Base Camp" trekking friends.
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As I can see, he is quite famous there. Rocky Dan, Siti and Ikhwan (all three are EBC members) made an early exit while the rest of the team continued with another loop. We then went to the nearby mamak coffee shop for a drink.

Bukit Tabur is being decorated by a layer of white mist/clouds after the morning rain. Background is Genting Highlands.

Top of Melawai Hill -- the flat land is most ideal for group outdoor activities

Posted by KC

Looping in Circuit

"You won't get dizzy meh?" a trekker friend asked me after I told her that I run round the 400 meters track at MPSJ, Subang Jaya for two hours for my training. While she was amused with my answer, I too, was amused with her question.

Another runner friend commented that it would be too boring or monotonous running round for two hours and she was amaze with my focus to continue for that long duration.

If we were to spin round for two minutes, most likely, we would get dizziness. But the 400 meters track is quite a long distance, depending how one looks at it.

MPSJ statium in Subang Jaya (photos are taken during past 10km Subang Jaya Run)

For the past few months, it has become a repeatable process for my exercising and training regime: Friday evening playing badminton; Saturday morning going trekking (training for Mount Everest Base Camp, EBC) and Sunday morning going for runs at MPSJ stadium.
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The advantage of running at MPSJ stadium is that it is very near my house – 700 meters only. So there isn’t much preparation; unlike running at Bukit Aman car park, I have to wake up early and drive all the way there.
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As to how to complete the 2-hour run, the first one hour is usually run in darkness (before the sun comes out). Since it is dark, there is not much different whether I am looping or running on a highway – cant’ see much anyway. The second half is done in daylight.
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I realize that when I run at the MPSJ stadium, I would tend to run faster compared to my training at Bukit Aman car park. It is interesting to find out what motivates me to run faster.
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This is how I make the run more interesting with the 400m circuit: I identified one runner who run quite fast and pace with him. While he is running in the inner loop, I am running at the outer loop. So I need to run much faster than him in order to maintain the pace. When I get tired a bit, I slow down and look for the next runner to challenge.

From the angle of VIP seats

As to the running gear, I could not wear the high-cut running shorts and vest – too exposed. Most walkers there wear T-shirts and track bottoms. So I have to respect the general dress code by wearing a slightly longer type of shorts, and vest which covers more on the shoulder part. Most people there are just walking and they must be wondering why this runner wants to run here for hours.

There are many walkers exercising on Sunday morning at the MPSJ stadium. At 8am, there is the aerobic session. I see many men are also happily doing the aerobic exercise also. I believe this is the in thing, only the focused runner continues with his run.

Written by KC
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Pro at Work

Photos are extracted from internet emails. Captions are created by yours truly, KC. Looking at these photographers, at times, I could imagine that I also go that extra mile to capture that precious moment with a choiced angle that yield a spetacular effect.

AHHHH … who stepped on my toes?!
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Dare to be different ... to the photographer who is not in the lorry. What a well-designed lorry to overcome the problem of vision being blocked by another photographer. Could it be the lorry is transporting portion of the bench (from stadium) and they just conveniently sit on it?

For those photographers who take photos of GT Queens at Japan GT at Sepang F1 Circuit, all are standing on flat ground. The photographers in front would block the view behind.

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The designer of this multiple launching pad could be getting the idea from the Patriot Missile Launcher. However, he needs a master controller for managing the five cameras. Otherwise, it is like cooking Claypot Chicken rice that the photographer has to inspect each camera, one at a time.
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Aisey... even the lenses were neatly arranged in a straight line. Take note of how the photographer stores the spare lens at the left most of the picture. How they could hold the heavy lenses with ease? Each lens is mounted on to a mono-pole instead of the normal tripod.

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How could the girl photographer still be smiling? She could be carrying about 40 kg of cameras. My photography friend, Shukri, could tell me by looking at the size of lenses: the larger lens is 600 mm (in focal length), one 500 mm, one 300 and another one is 200 mm lenses. The cameras are Canon brand with the famous white barrel body lenses.
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I read in one report that there is a lady photographer who went to a poor village in Africa to take photos. When she was surrounded by the locals wanted to rob her, she point her bazooka lens at them. The fled the hell outa there thinking that it was a huge gun. With the well informed robbers here, the first thing they take away is the huge and expansive lens.

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Posted by KC
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Training at Batu Caves

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

click here

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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