Blog my soul

All I Ever Wanted

2010-04-12T14:26:00.002+08:00

There are so many things I want right now. Mainly materialistic.

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I want to get a new cell phone. To tell you the truth, never in my life I bought a handphone with my own money. The first cell phone I got was my mom’s. Then the second one was a gift from my friends. I once used my brother’s cell phone for a long time (my younger brother has a lot of cell phone, he change it from time to time). Currently I’m using a phone which my dad bought it from Macau (made in China). It’s been giving me a lot of problem – people had been complaining about the loud static noise while speaking to me on the phone. Lately, Digi was offering a very good deal for its customer to get an IPhone 3Gs. I was very tempted to buy one (that time, I just got my credit approved) but chose not too (it was not an easy decision – I even dreamt about it).
It was always been my desire to get a HD Camcorder. I always want to get into the field of making independent film / documentary. It is still my dream to make a budget documentary or a short film. Though I have no experience (the only experience I have was going through some Youtube film making tips), I always felt that such limitation will only lead to an original auteur film. You just need to be creative in presenting your ideas with limited resources and skills. I remember saying to myself; “I’ll get the camcorder once I get my second pay check”. It’s nearly a year now since I said that.

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Sony Playstation 3. That’s like every guy’s dream toy to have. But this is a “want” I can easily let go. I seriously got no time to play if I had one. Furthermore, I’m afraid that I may get addicted to it. I once played PS3 in my friend’s house for 10 hours. It was very unhealthy - mentally, physically and socially. Glad I didn’t buy it. Oh yeah, one needs to get a HD TV in order to enjoy the full effect of a PS3. Will definitely cost a bomb.

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My notebook has been giving signs that it will die soon (ever since its neck broke. The screen can’t stand up without a support). That is why I seriously need to look for a new one before this one finally retires and go to I.T Heaven. The camcorder I plan to buy will also need a good computer for editing. Getting a notebook / PC Desktop seems to be the obvious main priority right now. It’s going to be a “NEED” rather than a “WANT” soon. But I’m still contemplating about it right now.

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The last thing is this, which is quite recent. A semi-acoustic guitar. RM2000 at least, for a good one. I believe that music instruments are an important element in one’s life. There are feelings that somehow words cannot describe but only the strumming of that minor key can fulfill that expression. I’m feeling quite repressed, I need to express. The vibration of the strumming guitar seems to be an instrument that can serve as a personal therapy for a stress-out guy like me in KL.

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The current pair of shoes I’m wearing right now is about 5 years old. Had been sending it to the gobbler for like so many times already and I remember the gobbler said to me “pergi beli kasut baru-la, ini sudah mau condemn”. A good pair of shoes will cost about RM200 at least.

*sigh*... the sport TOTO and Genting Casino is very very tempting right now.

Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia ROADSHOW

2009-11-06T11:27:00.004+08:00

Run and Charity

2009-10-31T21:17:00.005+08:00

I've not been running since Bulan Puasa. And since then, I’ve been running mostly on charity organized run.

The first one was organized by Sky Adventure Club of Taylor's University College; in support for PAWS Malaysia. I like dogs… I’ll even crawl for them. It was an 8km run at Taman Tasik Permaisuri. My first time running in that place, only heard about that place by Natalie Ng – the so called permaisuri runner.

Photo taken from 'Pause and Smile'

Tomorrow will be another charity run. The much publicised Terry Fox run. The purpose? To raise funds for Cancer research. I’ve heard of Mr. Terry Fox before when I was a kid. A great man… ran with only one leg and a right prostatic leg. His dead already and people are still running in his name – a hero? More than that – a legend.

It makes me wonder. The act of running can inspire people and even create a movement like this Terry Fox Run. I think... it is because people know that the act of running involves pain. And people react to that. People will automatically cheer for you when you are running (even if you are slow). And it is that pain that runner choose to endure that creates such catharsis towards people who are watching it. Watching people running is like watching a stage drama - audience react to it - they sympathise with the runner of the pain they are going through. But most importantly, the painful runner commands respect. And people remember such figures.

We'll miss you Yasmin Ahmad.

2009-07-26T14:57:00.007+08:00

Got the news from Lay Hoon; "Yasmin Ahmad is dead". I was shocked.
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I read about it that Yasmin was admitted into the ICU and I was praying and hoping she'll received a speedy recovery. There’s always this thought in my mind that good people will only die at old age. So, her death came as a shock to me.

Never met her before in person, but I followed greatly on her works. My thesis was on her movie “Sepet”. I’ve watched it over and over again to analyse the characters the subject matter of the movie. Like Literature, her film too allows freedom of interpretation and rich in literary symbolism which makes audience think and reflect upon their society, nation and especially their own self.

After receiving that devastating news, I watched “Sepet” again this morning. It was emotionally overwhelming this time… knowing that the works of Yasmin Ahmad had touched the heart and soul of my generation in Malaysia, and hopefully will inspire more filmmakers to be like her; to carry on the torch of hope for a better Malaysia.

Thank you Yasmin Ahmad, Malaysia will miss you. You will be remembered forever.

Working out with 2 Dumbbells

2009-06-24T04:19:00.004+08:00

After hearing training testimonies from other runners in Team Miracle Milers, I'm very convinced that I cannot improve further by just doing my runs outdoors.

I guess it makes good sense that in order for me to run in a constant speed and faster in 10k races, I need to also train my upper body. A good and strong posture will help my running.

Using an analogy of a F1 Car; Jenson Button cannot solely depends on Brawns-Mercedes engine alone. He also need to depend on a good F1 car body: spoilers and wings which creates aerodynamic effect... :-)

That is why proper training to shape my body like an F1 car is necessary to enable me to have that aerodynamic human speed.

Danny Chan, a miracle miler, is one member that i know who set aside weekends for shaping his body to become a F1 car. At least an hour for each workout... I personally notice his improvement and believe in his training method.

So what I did was to youtubed some videos on how to work out with two dumbbells (4kg each):

1. Dumbbell Rotation Exercises

2. Dumbbell Floor Press Exercises

3. Dumbbell Lunge Exercises (killer)

4. Dumbbell Lunge Press (My Fav)

I tried doing all this in 1hour... and Danny, you're right. It's better doing this in front of the TV; to take my mind away from the pain.

Jerebu and Training

2009-06-14T23:24:00.002+08:00

Jerebu melanda langit Malaysia,
Salah siapa jika bukan negri Indonesia,
Segala sisa dan sampahnya ditiup bayu,
Menceroboh, menakluk negeri aku.

***

Did a 6km run the other day. I was trying to maintain a 12minutes time for every 2km, but cannot maintain it. It's very difficult.

Only manage to finish 6km in 39min 43sec.

***

Last Thursday, I wanted to try to run without looking at my watch. Just for fun, just curiously wanted to know whether running without knowing the time will push me run faster or not. The argument is, if i don't know the time, I will run faster because my guts will always tell that i'm behind time already. And because of that hunch, I may be pushing harder.

So I did a 10k for this experimental training. Started my stopwatch, put it in my arm-bag, then off i went.

Ran around Bandar Kinrara 2. IT's 2km one loop. did 5 rounds.

After 10km. took out my stopwatch. Paused the time. and looked at it:

1hr 13min 43sec....

I'm slower.

LSD 2km x 5

2009-06-08T22:47:00.002+08:00

Location: Bandar Kinrara 2
Date: 4th June 2009
Time: 5:30pm

1st 2km - 15min 30sec

2nd 2km - 14min 12sec

3rd 2km - 15min 54sec

4th 2km - 13min 44sec

5th 2km - 15min 02sec

Total covered 10km (1hr 14min 32sec)

KOMTAR Tower Run 2009

2009-06-01T18:31:00.015+08:00

5 Miracle Milers including me took part in this event. For all of us, this will be our first time taking part in a vertical race.

We met infront of Pos Malaysia at 6.15am. We pretty much wasted a lot of time there until 7.15am.

After some warming up and strectching, led by Fitness first instructors, we head for the starting line for the flag / gun off.

This is my first time running with a camera. So, below are some of the moments while running in this KOMTAR tower run in chronological order.

This is the end of my race already. By this stage its all about endurance; We are competing to see who can walk up the longest without stopping.

If you're wondering why i take photos of these numbers, It's the floor level which I stopped for a short break.

Soak in the Sun

2009-05-10T19:43:00.005+08:00

I'm gonna soak up the sun

While it's still free
I'm gonna soak up the sun
Before it goes out on me

(Soak on the Sun by Sheryl Crow)

Sheryl Crow is one "Siaow" (Crazy) Ang Mo Lang (REd hair people, even though she's blonde, still qualify). Why do they like the sun so much??

Talk about the sun. The weather today is very extreme. Hot. Just came back from training today. It was the first time I ran with a water bottle in my hand.

I found a guide in the website while looking for ways to run with water bottle in my hand and i stumbled upon this illustration on how to drink and run:

But my take on who are the real expert in drinking while running must be this group of guys: (Click pic for website)

Anyway, today I did 10 km run in my campus. Getting ready for the New Balance 15K run at Padang Merbok.

first lap (3.1k) : 20minutes 0sec

Second Lap (3.1k) : 21minutes 10sec

Third Lap (3.1k ) : 23minutes 5sec

Fourth Lap (0.7k) : 04minutes 0sec

1hr 8minute 15sec : 10k

"MAKSIAT" di Mesjid

2009-05-10T10:15:00.006+08:00

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I Think Government Also Need to Implement the use of English Language for Pendidikan Islam Subject in School la....

Please Save the Dogs!!!

2009-05-04T23:41:00.003+08:00

Reading the story here makes me very sad that there are people who don't act like human at all. After reading this, I got the feeling that the human values of the world had slowly becomes corrupted. I hope Pulau Ketam will be infested by dirty smelly cats which will rule the villagers of Pulau Ketam with Iron Fist!

REMEMBER THE FAIRY TALE OF THE PIEP PIPER!!!

Reading this makes me give up on mankind... I'm devastated... seriously... my heart breaking into pieces.

Antares gave an explicit report here.

Running with the beat

2009-05-04T22:47:00.002+08:00

I'm getting use to it. Don't really know if it's a good thing or a bad thing but it definitely helps me to run further.

The selection of songs are important. And on top of that, the arrangement of the songs also helps my form as well.

Some of the songs I'm listening while running:

Linkin Park - Bleed it out
Green Day - Know your Enemy
Foo Fighters - The Pretender
Audioslave - Original Fire
Paramore - Misery Business
System of the Down - * the System
System of the Down - Radio, Video
Hujan - Kuala Lumpur
Hujan - Kau Pejak Hatiku
Linkin Park - It's Easier to Run
Goo Goo Dolls - Big Machine
Linkin Park - What I've Done
Goo Goo Dolls - Before it's too Late
Linkin Park - Shadow of the day
Goo Goo Dolls - Stay with You
Linkin Park - Faint

I like to start out strong, so for the first few songs, it must be songs which motivates; In other words, songs that rock with strong bass beat.

Two days ago, as time permits me, I did 4km run. Starting from the beginning of Gurney drive to Sunrise McDonalds and back to Jalan Edgecumbe. Did it in 26min 54sec. Poor timing I must say, but I felt like I can go for another 4 more kilometers.

Today, with the selection of songs listed above, I did 8km in 51min 34sec.

Next training experiment: I'll try listening to Classical or instrumental music next time and see whether it improves my running or not.

Aku berlari sambil berfikir: Jam, Kasut dan Nasi Bungkus

2009-04-22T19:47:00.004+08:00

"Adakah harga barang-barang di Malaysia ini sudah mula melambung tinggi ataupun sudahpun lama saya tidak pergi ber-shopping sehingga saya tidak tahu bahawa inilah harga pasaran sekarang..."

3 kejadian berlaku pada tanggal 22 bulan 4 2009 (hari ini). Jam tangan Casio saya yang berharga RM5, talinya telah putus. kebetulan pula saya perlu mencari kasut berkulit hitam supaya dapat memberi penampilan yang bergaya, bermutu dan berkeunggulan pada sesi temuramah saya di Subang Jaya esok. Ini bermakna saya boleh melakukan 2 pekara dalam satu masa di pasar raya Bintang Bandar Baru Bangi.

Aktiviti membeli belah adalah sesuatu sifat dan kekuatan yang tidak dapat saya warisi dari ibu saya. Beliau mampu menghabiskan waktu berjam-jam untuk mencari sesuatu barang yang dapat menawarkan harga yang paling best sekali.

Saya pernah mencubai teknik membeli belah ibu saya, tapi saya gagal dengan teruknya; saya pulang tanpa membeli apa-apa pun kerana keletihan dan pening kepala.

Hari ini, aku berhasrat untuk mencapai maklamat saya untuk membeli kasut berkulit hitam!

Sebelum bermula saya nak tanya satu soalan:

Adakah harga barang-barang di Malaysia ini sudah mula melambung tinggi ataupun sudahpun lama saya tidak pergi ber-shopping sehingga saya tidak tahu bahawa inilah harga pasaran sekarang... Wajarkah saya untuk meletakkan budget saya dalam lingkungan tidak melebihi RM40.00 untuk sepasang kasut berkulit hitam.

Ramai orang pernah berkata bahawa saya ini masih tinggal pada zaman 1990; Pada era dimana sebungkus nasi lemak hanya berharga 30sen pada masa itu.

Biar saya memendekkan ekspedisi aku mencari kasut dan repair jam. Untuk mencari kasut berkulit hitam yang berharga kurang dari RM40.00 adalah mustahil. Semuanya berharga lebih kurang RM59.90; itupun kasut yang berjenama entah punya nama seperti: Alpha Roman?!?! Mr. X?!?!? Italiano?!?!?!? ePoch?!?!? SwissPolo?!?!?

Kamu semua tentu ingat saya patut cuba kasut berjenana BATA. Saya ada pergi check, harganya lebih dahsyat tak ingat tuahn punya... kasut ofis biasa pun sudah mencecak RM69.90.

Ok.. So, saya dengan hati yang kedekut pun pergi ke kedai Hardware, beli gam getah. Habis itu gua pun pergi ke kedai kasut beli satu botol cat kasut berwarna perang pekat. Aku telah memutuskan untuk tidak membeli kasut berkulit hitam; saya bagaimanapun akan repair kasut saya yang telah berumur 4tahun. Jimat dan juga 'KIAM SIAP"- Chinaman punya motto.

Tanpa membuang masa, saya terus pergi ke kedai jam untuk mengantikan tali kulit jam Casio saya. Ha, ini adalah suatu pengajaran... jangan sekali - kali memandang remeh tentang benda-benda yang kecil kerana benda-benda yang remeh-temehlah akan berkemungkinan menjadi pemediah hati dan mata nanti.

Saya ingat tali kulit jam saya tak mahal. Saya menjangka ianya akan berharga RM5 begitu. Saya terus memberi jam saya kepada Tuan kedai itu dan berkata kepada beliau... "tukar yang sama punya saya datang ambil nanti."

Apabila saya pergi mengambil balik jam saya, dia mengemukakan saya sebuah resit berharga RM18.... :-(

Cuba bayangkan, jam Casio ini hanya berharga RM5... skrang dia charge saya RM18 untuk tali kulitnya. Kalau saya tahu, lebih baik gua beli jam yang baru!!!!

>>>>>

Hari ini saya training di dalam UKM. Satu lap di UKM adalah 3.1km. Saya melakukan 3 lap.

Lap 1: 21min 32saat

Lap 2: 23min 13saat

Lap 3: 22min 22saat

Jumlah jarak perlarian: 9.3km (setiap lap tidak mengira masa rehat selama 5minit)

>>>>>>

Harga makanan sudahpun melambung tinggi. Selepas training, saya seperti biasa pergi membeli nasi campur untuk makan malam.

Nasi sebungkus, telur goreng dan ikan goreng. Cuba agak berapa harganya...? Selalunya, ia berharga RM4.50. Tapi hari ini dia charge saya RM6.00. Dengan malunya saya meminta maaf dan mengata kepadanya bahawa saya hanya membawa RM5 (saya tidak membawa dompet semasa training).

Saya lalu bertanya, berapa harga setiap lauk saya?

NASI: RM1.00 (ini amat terlampau... nasi lemak seringgit pun dah ada telur dan ikan bilis)

Telur: RM1.00 (Harga pasaran untuk telur hanya 30sen - 40sen. Halalkah ini??)

IKAN: RM4.00 (Nelayan Malaysia bermogok ke?)

Kesian orang seperti saya... jika Kerajaan memang berhasrat untuk menolong rakyatnya, tolonglah mahasiswa-mahasiswi di Malaysia ini dulu... suatu hari nanti kita pula akan menjadi penyumbang dan penjana ekonomi Negara. Bak kata kumpulan New Radicals... You Get What You Give...

So PM Najib, give me, to give you... get my drift? 4 years is a very short time.

Public Service Announcement

2009-03-24T14:32:00.001+08:00

Back to Square One

2009-03-22T19:57:00.004+08:00

Sejak latihan ke-38, sesi latihan saya sudah mula merosot akibat dari pengurusan masa yang tidak baik. Lebih-lebih lagi, faktor peribadi dan juga luaran yang begitu melemaskan membuatkan saya sering melakukan kesilapan dalam apa jua benda yang saya sedang harungi. Ini adalah salah satu bab dan saat akhir pada hidup saya ini... iaitu untuk mengakhiri ijazah Masters saya, sebelum memulakan satu lagi bab baru - dunia pekerjaan.

Memandangkan konsistensi latihan saya tidak lagi berada dalam keadaan yang teratur, saya telah memutuskan berlatih semula dari angka satu. Walaupun tidak dicatat, latihan terakhir saya adalah latihan ke-40 sebelum mengharungi larian Amal Seri Sinar di Bukit Jalil baru-baru ini.

Sejak Februari 11, 2009, saya hanya berjaya berlatih sebanyak 3 kali sahaja (tidak termasuk 2 hari perlumbaan). Sukar dipercayai bukan? Prestasi saya pula telah merosot, satu pekara yang tidak ingin saya berbincang di sini. Itulah hakikatnya... seorang pelajar yang dikhaskan untuk belajar dan menulis thesis tetapi gatal sangat untuk melibatkan diri dalam pelbagai aktiviti-aktiviti yang sekarang telah menjadi bebannya. Bak kata orang melayu: bagaikan menggali tanah yang lekuk.

Hari ini dijanjikan permulaan yang baru. Latihan bermula dari pengiraan satu. Saya berlari sejauh 5.1km, tiada tekanan mental untuk melakukan masa yang bagus. Masa tercatat: 37minit 59saat. Tiada masalah, gunakannya sebagai pedoman.

Minggu ini, Saudari Teh Lay Hoon akan mengirimkan saya hadiah hari jadi saya yag sudah lama ku tunggu. Beliau tahu saya kini mula giat berlari sejak tahun lalu. Kerana saya asyik mengadu kepadanya bahawa berlatih seorang diri amat membosankan (tujuan saya adalah menglibatkan beliau dalam latihan berlari), dia telah belikan sebuah MP3 player untuk menemani saya semasa berlatih...

Harap - harap dengan bantuan teknologi saya mampu berlatih dengan lebih giat lagi.

Untuk mengakhiri blog saya hari ini, izinkan saya menggunakan tagline Hasbullah Awang sebagai kata rangkapan: MAJULAH SUKAN UNTUK NEGARA!

Minggu ini saya menggunakan Bahasa Melayu bagi menyokong Sasterawan - Sasterawan Negara yang sudah lama dipinggirkan dalam konteks pembentukan negara akibat daripada impak globalisasi.

busy as a bee and busier than the beaver...

2009-03-12T18:11:00.006+08:00

Things just fall into my priority list, and all are equally important. I never been so busy. And to add into it, I'm not in a very good mood most of the time.

My Thesis preparation is in deep pile of unarranged, jumble up and blended mess. Currently redoing my Literature review and constucting my methodology. My elective course, Comparative Literature (a course which I was forced to register) has two novels to read (No internet notes available) and a folio to be completed by the end of April. I'm also right now assisting my Lecturer to handle a tutorial class of 24 students. The class preparation and marking of their essays is a taxing task. But what to do, I need the money.

Two days ago was my court hearing again... stayed there from 8am till 1pm. It was a total waste of time because the judge for the case took a day off and the case was transfered to another judge. You can only imagine the anxiouness, it overwhelms me - couldn't sleep as the day drew near.

I'm living in Bangi now, some of my friends always insist me to come and see them everytime they come to KL. They thought Kuala Lumpur is the backyard of Bangi, they thought Kuala Lumpur is just across the road. They thought Selangor is like Penang (small island), they thought Bangi = Kuala Lumpur and obviously they thought getting to KL using the public transport is only RM1 like in Penang when in actual fact it may cost you a set of McValue meals with a sundae ice cream. Whenever I ask them to "Come-lah to Bangi" they reply "Bangi got what?".... we got kastam black market...

One can see that i havent been updating my running blog. Haven't got the time to run. When I got time to run, it rained. So far, since my last blog run, I only trained 3 times, and dun even got time to blog about it.

Oh ya, The wifi router in my hostel brokedown (rumours say it was hit by lightning)... everything i do is heavily dependent on the internet... without it, work will be slowed down or stopped.

Can't write much, got things to do, I'm taking the opportunity to post a blog as i'm currently staying in my aunty's place in Bandar Kinrara, wifi signal strong here. I guess God saw my mess and trying to restore order... the timing was right, my Uncle and Aunty went to New Zealand and needed somebody to take care the house. This means:

Wifi - Now I can do my work.
Location - Bandar Kinrara is near to Taman Bukit Jalil, I can collect the number and also go for the Larian Amal easily.
Transportation - No problem. Uncle and Aunty leave me 3 cars to use; Ford (4x4), Vitara (4x4) and an Audi. Not forgetting my bike. 4 vehicles... can open "Rent a Car" business already.
Training- finally, got to do my training today, did NOS training 2Km x 3:

Lap 1 - 11mins 54secs

Lap 2 - 13mins 10secs

Lap 3 - 12mins 50secs

Now back to work...

My 38th Training

2009-02-11T20:37:00.003+08:00

New Training route:

This is "Tasik Rekreasi UKM". If you google this lake, the descrpition for this lake sounds like this:

Yellowish to Brown most of the year around. Heavy silt from nearby construction work. Popular dating spot in UKM at night. Rumored to be the playground of ghosts.

Also known as Tasik Kejut by some, Maybe too many shocking incidents happened here. The Pegawai Keselamatan also rated this area as a "HOTSPOT" area - a potential "Tempat Maksiat".

But now already fully renovated. So, all the yellowish, brown, Ghost and hantu maksiat already gone. Ok, i'm not sure about the maksiat part but definitely the area is nicer to run now.

Anyway, I'm not there to bermaksiat but there to bergiat because KL City 10K Run is coming soon and so far NO satisfying training is achieved.

One round of the Tasik is approximately 856.41meters long. And I tried hard running one round, clocked in at 5min 12sec.

I plan to do at least a one hour run or 10km run today... Mana tau when i reached my 6th round the frogs at the Tasik summoned the rain and stopped my training.

Only manage to run a total of 5km++. Timing 33min 01sec.

My 37th Training

2009-02-11T20:26:00.003+08:00

Trained 3 days ago, Thaipusam day.

Warm up jog around Seksyen 1 Bandar Baru Bangi about 20minutes.

Then Visit the hill.

Did 5 sets of NOS up the hill, about 30meters and steep measuring about 25-30 degree.

Don't dare to do the 6th NOS cause I felt dizzy abit already. Wouldn't wanna roll down like Bollywood movies.

My 36th Training

2009-02-07T19:37:00.006+08:00

Today suppose to be the ADUN Chempaka 6km run. Unfortunately, it was postponed to tomorrow. This is the 3rd time they had changed the time. Hence, Miracle Milers decided to boycott the run like how Malaysia Government Boycott American products…

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It was a good thing that Team Miracle Mile decided not to go for this run. I was still recovering from coughing and phlegm. I was considering not going already anyway.

.
But since I’m now feeling much better, today I decided to run my own personal 6.2km run in UKM Campus as a replacement for the ADUN 6km run today.

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I did this route before last year while I was preparing for 12.8km KRI run. My timing was 54minutes 12seconds. Very slow i know.

One complete run is 3.1km. So I'm planning to do 2rounds which equal to 6.2km.

Like every F1 drivers, it is important for the drivers to know their Circuit very well so that they know which tire to use, when to speed, when to slow down, which corner can speed, what gear to use for certain corners and etc etc...

Similar to my case, I need to know my running path. UKM Campus route has some obstacles need to be noted. They are:

Gangster Monkeys; Fierce, have the ability to work together and most of all they bite. They are known for their vice activities in the girls' hostel... break in into the girls room and take everything they can... They share the skills of the ancient carribean Pirates.

They are likely to hang out near the garbage area. Two places actually, one near the school of humanities and one more near school of Mathematics. With that in mind, I'll run on the other side of the road.

Slope and hill; there's one road leading to the UKM Clinic. The slope gradually build up, the angle is about 10 - 15 degree. But it is long run, about 1km. The ontehr one is the hill, a short one but the angle, according to my estimation, is about 20-25 degree, then half way, build up till 40degree angle. Here, the first round on this was okay.. still can run. But the second round on this hill was too much to handle... my back ache, and i admit, I stopped running for a while to catch my breath before continue running towards the finish line.

Cars, Buses and Lorries; Cars, is because nowadays students are mighty rich already, can afford cars to move around, even though their faculty is nearby. Buses, is because UKM bus drivers very lowly paid... you pay peanuts, you get monkey drivers, and i don't like monkey bus drivers driving around the campus while I running on the road. Lorries, is because renovations are going on around the university... that is because UKM aspire to become the next APEX University by 2020 after USM APEX contract ends.

I mention this is because there are some part of the run which requires me to cross the road. By doing this, it will definitely break my momentum/my speed. But what to do... Biar lambat asalkan selamat, right?

***

My Personal 6.2km UKM-Campus Run Result: 42minutes 06seconds

I seriously think the timing could be better lor... compare this with my run in stadium and other places, this timing is not that good lor:

6km @ 38min 46sec (33rd Training) - UKM stadium

6km @ 40min 36sec - 12.8km KRI (when reached the 6km mark timing)

My 35th Training

2009-01-30T00:57:00.005+08:00

Left my Digital watch in Bangi. So, i cannot time myself for today's training.

Chinese New Year had seriously disturbed my training progress. Lots of food and sleep; running was in my mind but laziness overcome me instantly after every meal. The only excercise i had through out CNY was playing Nintendo Wii...

Nintendo Wii is fun. After playing, the next day my hands and shoulders ache. But a great workout too. Try playing the boxing game and The StarWars game... really interesting and tiring.

Gurney Drive was packed with people. Not an enjoyable run today. Covered an approximately 7km++ today.

9 more days to go.

Work Less, Earn More = More time to Train..

2009-01-28T23:13:00.004+08:00

Patrick Erwin, CareerBuilder.com blogger, writes about jobs where you can work less and make more than the averages. His article, which appear in MSN weekly focus, list down 20 kinds of jobs which he finds, allow you to work less and earn more.

We are often drawn into jobs that offer 9-5 working hours because we were not told about the varieties of vacancies available in the world which may clearly give you more bang for your buck. .
So, for those job hunters out there and also those graduates looking for a fresh start, do consider the jobs below...

******

1. Aircraft pilots, co-pilots and flight engineers
Hours/week: 23.5
Hours/year: 1,215
Annual earnings: $119,658

2. Biological scientist
Hours/week: 38.4
Hours/year: 1,992
Annual earnings: $65,329

3. Biochemist and biophysicist
Hours/week: 37.5
Hours/year: 1,947
Annual earnings: $69,681

4. Bus driver
Hours/week: 35.9
Hours/year: 1,613
Annual earnings: $26,107

5. Clinical, counseling and school psychologists
Hours/week: 38.1
Hours/year: 1,693
Annual earnings: $59,595

6. Dental assistant
Hours/week: 35.6
Hours/year: 1,849
Annual earnings: $30,895

7. Desktop publisher
Hours/week: 38.7
Hours/year: 2,007
Annual earnings: $36,858

8. Directors, religious activities and education
Hours/week: 38.1
Hours/year: 1,978
Annual earnings: $48,243

9. Educational, vocational and school counselors
Hours/week: 37.9
Hours/year: 1,712
Annual earnings: $50,075

10. Fitness trainers and aerobics instructors
Hours/week: 38.0
Hours/year: 1,976
Annual earnings: $35,262

11. Insurance underwriter
Hours/week: 38.6
Hours/year: 2,005
Annual earnings: $63,157

12. Interpreters and translators
Hours/week: 34.1
Hours/year: 1,687
Annual earnings: $35,853

13. Law clerk
Hours/week: 38.4
Hours/year: 1,961
Annual earnings: $46,539

14. Law teacher, post-secondary
Hours/week: 35.2
Hours/year: 1644
Annual earnings: $158,353

15. Miscellaneous media and communications workers
Hours/week: 36.7
Hours/year: 1,852
Annual earnings: $38,698

16. Optometrist
Hours/week: 37.7
Hours/year: 1,959
Annual earnings: $103,375

17. Psychologist
Hours/week: 38.2
Hours/year: 1,722
Annual earnings: $59,543

18. Speech-language pathologist
Hours/week: 37.5
Hours/year: 1,611
Annual earnings: $53,499

19. Telephone operator
Hours/week: 38.7
Hours/year: 2,009
Annual earnings: $29,877

20. Tree trimmers and pruners
Hours/week: 37.2
Hours/year: 1,898
Annual earnings: $35,644

My Experience as one of the 21 charged with illegal assembly

2009-01-23T21:35:00.011+08:00

It was my first time sitting in the Magistrate Court’s dock where I used to see RPK sat in there during his trial. Never in my life had I ever thought I too will be in that dock.

On the 23rd January 2009 @ around 10am, the Magistrate Court's Clerk read to me my 2 charges, they were:

1.) Participating in an illegal assembly

2.) Failing to adhere Police’s order to disperse

Then I was asked “ANDREW NG YEW HAN, Mengaku salah atau Tidak?"

“TIDAK BERSALAH (NOT GUILTY)” were the words I said in the dock.

The Court's Dock area which I had the Priviledge to sit in

A few days before the trial, my dad told me; perhaps if I plead guilty, the penalty will be something like RM1000 fine that’s all. Well, he was wrong, I was told later that the charged under Section 27 of the Police Act (for both the offences) may fine me between RM2,000 and RM10,000 and/or a jail term of not more than one year for each charge.

Nearly pissed my pants after hearing that. Maybe those Prison break series I watched might come in handy this time.

After the 21 accused pleaded “Not Guilty” and asked to be trialed, the DPP suggested a RM5000 bail for our release and the submission of our passport to the court. When I heard RM5000 as bail, I felt very uneasy but still keeping my game face in the court.

Gobind Singh Deo, who is representing most of us argued the shrewdness of a RM5000 bail suggested by the DPP. Furthermore, he continues to argue that the majority of the accused are Chinese. Chinese New Year is near and money is needed and begged for the judge’s mercy.

When comes to the DPP’s turn, she strongly believed that the RM5000 bail is important as it will ensure the presence of the accused in the court. It guarantees smooth court proceeding.

Cut long story short, the judge decided that a RM1500 bail for each of the 21 person is sufficient. The date was also set, March 10th 2009 is the date which we all need to report back. After that, we waited for 3hours for the bail process… and we are not allowed to leave the court room until bail was posted.

But I guess the 3hours of waiting was also a time well spent. Though we were charged of offences which has a penalty of jail term and fine, the atmosphere in the court room was very joyful. We talked, we joked, and we laughed, took photos and even ate in the court room. We ate Kentucky Fried Chicken in the court room. I mean, how often one can do that. It was no longer a court room but a Party Hall. Let just say it was like a family day gathering for bloggers and also Anti-ISA believers.

I would like to thank all who came to support us. Bloggers, PJ Anti-ISA followers, the priest, the reporters and everyone, your decision to come this morning and stayed with us till the end tells us that we are not alone in this fight. I would like to thank Haris for helping us before the hearing. To the lawyers from DAP, Bar Council and the Catholic Lawyers for taking the initiative as most of us were clueless about everything. Thanks also to Mr. Jeyapalan for giving me the many words of assurance and encouragement before the hearing. My thanks to Angela, for her motherly and positive attitude which boost the confidence of the 21. And of course my bailer, Miss Erica Hew, I know its difficult to open an account today as it is the last day before the Chinese new year starts, I appreciate your deed. To the other bailers too, RPK, Zorro, Delcapo and Shanghai fish, we thank you.

The last group to be bailed out

To finish this post of mine, I would like to end with a malay pantun I composed not long ago:

Seekor cacing menelan naga
Mampukah rakyat menelan derita
Semangat rakyat terus membara
Sehingga I.S.A kembali ke neraka

See you guys on the 10th of March 2009!

My 34th Training.

2009-01-22T20:55:00.006+08:00

NOS training Today!

Lap 1 ---------------- 1:41

Lap 2 ----------------1:44

Lap 3---------------- 1:41

Lap 4---------------- 1:41

I definitely improve from my previous NOS training i had in my 30th training. Hitting 1:41 - 3times is something i thought i'm not able to do. Now that I'm able to maintain that timing, it surely encourages me for the upcoming 6km run.

But i seriously think my performance got something to do with the hill training i had from time to time.

Anyway, Just a little bit more of NOS training, I'll be able to reach below 1:40 @ 400meters in the next NOS training.

My 33rd Training

2009-01-17T19:50:00.005+08:00

Today I did 7km run. Covered that length in 46minutes 39seconds.

I realised when i reached the 4km my time was 24minutes 37seconds. That's a new personal best because my previous timing in the same venue was 25minutes 46seconds. That's about 50 seconds faster.

My 6km timing also improve. I clocked 40minutes 36seconds at the 6km mark during the KRI
12.8km run. This time it's 38minutes 46seconds.

I seriously think it's the hill training i've gone through which helps me to improve my running and timing. I'll talk more about that in my next posting,... gotta run to the TV room to catch the result of the Kuala Terengganu by election. bye!

9.09pm UPDATE: The team at the PAS IT centre has reported that the tallying process has stopped as PAS has declared victory based on unofficial reports that PAS has won by a majority of 2,616.

Malaysiakini 9.10pm UPDATE: According EC official tally: PAS (32,393 votes), BN (29,969), Independent (191) with two more boxes to be tallied. The majority so far is 2,424.

FINAL and OFFICIAL UPDATE: PAS Wins Kuala Terengganu.

My 32nd Training

2009-01-14T00:43:00.004+08:00

My previous 4km record in UKM stadium was 29minutes 46seconds. That was 2 months ago/on my 9th Training.

Back in Penang, In Westland's Field,i recorded 26minutes 30seconds.

Although I did set a personal best of 4km (25minutes 05seconds) on the Gurney Drive route, I would say that this two timing is the most legitimate ones as it was timed on an accurate track, the distance are precise.

Today's training shows alot of improvement in terms of my speed and stamina. I'm more comfortable and capable in strategizing and managing my run now.

My timing is 25minutes 45seconds for 4km run.

My target is to reach 5km in 32minutes next week and 6km in 40minutes the week after. Then, I would only set my target for the ADUN 6km RUN after chinese new year.

Oh ya, today's total Calories Burned: 450

My 31st Training

2009-01-13T02:10:00.005+08:00

According to Calories Calculator, today i burned around 250Calories. :-)

For my 31st training, i decided to visit the hill road behind my hostel; a place where all the rich malays stay. Bungalows and Palace... like the Klang's Zakaria palace kind of thing. My firend say that the famous Malay actor who acted KL Menjerit, Gangster and Anak Halal - Rosham Nor has a house there...

Maybe the next time when i jog there, i'll snap some photos and post it up on the blog. Let's just hope the police patrollers won't arrest me for attempted robbery. They frequently do their rounds there.

Running around area like this one is a great motivator. Looking at all the beautiful and big houses sort of encourage you to work harder to achieve that kind of status... or it can also discourage you by wondering why aren't you born a Malay in this bumi tercinta ini....

That kind of encouragement and motivation may influence your running too... and hence you run harder.

Have you ever tried doing NOS up hill?

I did today and i felt this strange fading sensation in my mind and suddenly everything slowly becomes dark... ***

Anyway, for the record... today special training I manage to cover 3.5km in 30minutes. Hooray!

Drink and Run

2009-01-11T21:31:00.007+08:00

One common thing I always do when I train is that I rely on thirst to signal drinking. That’s one fact I’ve found out in an article I read in the internet while goggling “Running” and “Diet” - http://www.nismat.org/traintip/runner/diet.html

Maybe it’s because I’m not brought up in a family who frequently force you to drink water when you’re young (I know some family even schedule their kids drinking time). Like in school, most people would bring their Water Tumbler and drink from time to time in class. A habit acquired since young. I still see that habit in University and also in work place. According to my observation, mostly Chinese people would have that kind of Water Tumbler habit –young and old.

But I’m not like that. In school, I bought drinks from the mamak stall; that’s only when I’m thirsty. Sometimes I drank straight from the pipe, a common trait which I learned from my fellow Malay and Indian friends back in school. I still remember, Baharudin, once told me “Air the Penang bersih punya.”

Then I asked “Mana you tahu, nanti minum saya kena cirit birit macam mana?”

He replied “Bapa yang cakap. Dia kerja kat PBA” (Perkhidmatan Bekalan Air / WaterResource Service).

In PBA I trust...

* * *

Now back to the article I read. It suggests that one should drink two cups of water 2hours before training. Then 30minutes before training drink another cup. Then while training, drink one cup every 20-30minutes.

The article also noted to drink only beverages with less than 8% sugar (it did not state why). Also avoid fruit juice since it frequently leads to stomach cramps and diarrhea.

There is also an after training drinking requirement. Drink one cup of fluid every 30-60 minutes through- out the day, such as water, low-fat milk, juice or sports drinks. It warns runners to limit caffeinated beverages, especially during hot weather.

I got a feeling that I'm not able to abide with this drinking discipline.

My 29th and 30th Training

2009-01-10T20:46:00.004+08:00

My 29th training was on Wednesday. It's officially my first training back in UKM after my my semester break.

All hype up and ready to go, i suddenlly realize that i forgot to bring my stopwatch for the training. What a way to start my first training for ADUN AMPANG 10k run.

So, since i'm there and already warm up already... Just run-lah.

I ran for an hour non-stop covered 8km(LSD style and sometimes speed a bit)... using my handphone watch to mark my time. It's amazing to find that i did not felt tired after an hour of run, but i sweat profusely. Baju basah macam kena hujan...

My 30th Training, which was Today... was my NOS taining.

Lap 1: 1.50

Lap 2: 1.41

Lap 3: 1.48

Lap 4: 1.46

Ok-lah... no complains. My first lap is only a testing lap. 2nd Lap, I went too fast. 3rd Lap, i too slow. My 4th Lap, just nice.

Welcome Back Surprise by UKM.

2009-01-05T08:41:00.005+08:00

I'm back in UKM. In my flat. Writing this blog. Yes, UKM finally made our place, (yes, our humble rundown flat) a WIFI ZONE. It was requested by all students who stayed there for the past one semester and now it was granted and installed. Not bad for a public administration, kinda fast. I thought they will never do it. But now it's here, I'm thankful and Praise the Lord!

Now with the wifi available in my hostel:

Save money. No need to go to Internet cafe to check emails or Old Town coffee to receive wifi.

Save Petrol. No need to go all the way to my Bilik Siswazah to access on-line Journals already.

Save time. No need to wait until tommorow everytime i finish running. I straight away update my blog about my run in my bathroom... :-)

The signal is very strong. You know why? because the wifi router is just right infront of my balcony.

Happy Scary 2009!

2008-12-31T01:38:00.011+08:00

Experts predict that the coming new year of 2009 will not be a “Happy” new year at all. The word Retrenchment and Bankruptcy will be heard more often next year as the looming economy crisis sweeps Malaysia. Some say it will be the repeat of the “Great Depression” of 1929 or maybe worst than that.

.
Early signs of economy crisis are already hinting what’s going to happen next year. Anil’s blog article “The storm has reached our shores” tells us of the dark clouds coming our way:

.
In Kedah, 1,429 workers from 17 factories have been “temporarily” laid off.
.
In Kuching, 1,500 workers have been retrenched as Western Digital shuts its plant in March.
.
About 60 per cent of these workers are reportedly married with children. The job losses account for 15 per cent of the 10,000 workers in the electronics sector in Sarawak.
.
Another 3,250 workers around the country, mainly from the electronics sector, are expected to be retrenched by over 130 employers in the next three months. And that’s just the official estimate.
.
Earlier in June, 1,600 workers in Nikko Electronics on mainland Penang lost their jobs when the company said it was unable to continue operations. They received a pittance in compensation.
.
.

So to start out the New Year of financial uncertainty, why not cheer ourselves with some dark comedy to commemorate the clichéd happiness of the commercialized “New Year”?

cartoons taken from the Times Magazine

If comic cartoon doesn't help to sway your mind away from the financial uncertainty, then try the Bible, it never fails to comfort and inspire anybody who are uncertain about the scary 2009.

God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah. (Psalm 46:1-3)

and my favorite:

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

Happy New Year...

My 28th Training

2008-12-29T17:53:00.002+08:00

I did two runs on 26th Dec and 28th Dec which i did not record down. I barely reach my 4km requirement on both training and my timing was horrible. Christmas fat i blame..

Today, feeling much more healthier and lighter, i visited the gurney drive route again to try to set a new 4km timing.

My best record for the gurney drive route was 27min 30sec which i recorded in my 22nd training. Recently, i did a 4.2km run around my neigbourhood and clocked in at 25min 32sec on my 26th training.

On my 28th Training, I clocked in at 25min 05sec for a 4km run.

Progress... I like!

Christmas again...

2008-12-25T01:20:00.001+08:00

My 27th Training

2008-12-24T22:28:00.002+08:00

Long Slow Distance (LSD) running today.

With a 45minutes of running, I covered an approximately 6km around Padang Kota Lama.

Wanted to go further and longer, at least 1hour of LSD but cannot cos need to fetch my mom from work.

My 26th Training

2008-12-19T19:26:00.002+08:00

Another 4.2km run today.

Two days ago, i did the same run at the same place clocking 26min 31sec.

Today, I started extra strong and for my last lap 1.4km i pick up my speed and NOS all the way at my last 800meters.

With that strategy, I slashed 59secs of my previous best timing.

Now, my personal best 4.2km record is 25min 32sec.

Improvement I like... :-)

My 25th Training

2008-12-17T19:40:00.003+08:00

Did not train since last Thursday (NOS training). Feeling a bit lazy already.

Today I motivated myself to run by watching Cool Runnings in YOUTUBE, a story about the jamaician bobsled team. YA MAN!

My running route:

One complete round is 1.4km.

Did 3 rounds. Total up 4.2km. That's an additional of 200meters from my usual 4km.

My last 4km best timing was 26min 30sec.

This evening, for a 4.2km run, i clock in 26min 31sec.

I will call that a mathematical improvement.

Better Walk than Run...

2008-12-17T19:28:00.002+08:00

Last Sunday, I participated the Penang 10km Starwalk with Lay Hoon. Managed to finish within 2hours. I thought it was impossible to finish within that time. I was suprised that we made it. Both of us finished at the same time, 1hr 26min.

What bugs me the most is the timing. My last 10km RUN timing was 1hr 11min 39sec (November 22, 2008 - training record). While for the 10km StarWALK... is 1 hr 26min. It's just 15minutes apart.

I cannot accept it... 10km run is so difficult; painful, tiring, stress, mental torture etc.. all hardwork!!! and only to be 15minutes apart from the effortless 10km walk?!?!? Come on... is my watch playing tricks on me?

24th Training is my NOS Training

2008-12-11T23:41:00.003+08:00

I did my NOS training in USM Stadium with Joshua today.

Did a 1.2km warm up jog and then stretching for about 10minutes.

Here's the result:

Lap 1 - 1:36

Lap 2 - 1:45

Lap 3 - 1:48

Lap 4 - 1:46

It's good to see that i'm clocking in below 1:49. My first NOS training back in early November was terrible, clocked in at 1:50 average...

Progressive training since that day had given me a more confident timing in my NOS run. Now I got an average of 1:44 for my 4laps of NOS. I just need more "Pia" spirit to do more of NOS training.

Here's some facts about my training record: Out of the 24 training i did, i only did 3 NOS training. shame, shame shame...

My 23rd Training

2008-12-09T19:16:00.004+08:00

For warm up, I ran 1 and 1/2 round of this:

It's along Jalan Khaw Sim Bee and Victoria Field road. If you don't know where is that place, the landmark is always the new Penang Christian Centre Building.

Approximately 2km of warm up running then i head to the nearby field:

Ah... Padang Westland... revisited. It's the place where my high school usually organise its Sports Day. Many memories... sweet and sour ones.

***

Anyway, it's another training day and another new timing record. I did my 4km run again. The 400meters lining is still there on the field. So, it means the length of 400meters per-round is accurate.

I started out strong as usual. And whenever i can, I picked up my speed every each round. Yesterday my timing for 4km was 27min 30sec.

Today, I locked in at 26min 30sec for a 4km run.

TMM Runners Photographed in KRI 2008

2008-12-09T17:07:00.006+08:00

Jensen: The one with the red shorts

Joshua: "Pia"-ing with an old man.

Me: grey vest and black shorts

This was the girl Joshua was talking about. It kept most of the men to continue running.

My 20th, 21st and 22nd Training

2008-12-08T17:17:00.002+08:00

My 20th Training
Two days after KRI 12.8km road race, i went running again. Did the gurney drive route. After about 10minutes of running, there's the terrible aching pain on my shin. I had to stop to ease the pain a little before continue running. I ran a total of 4km in 33minutes 22secs.

It's not my best timing but i'm still in my recovery stage.

My 21st Training
3days later after my 20th training, I did a LSD, a total of 4.1km. Legs still hurting.

My 22nd Training
Today, i felt stronger today. Maybe it's the new haircut, felt lighter now. I did the Gurney drive 4km route. My best timing for this route was 28min 17sec. But today, i clocked in at 27min 30sec.

It must be the new sexy short pants i'm wearing and the haircut.

Ridiculous Crazy Sale

2008-12-05T09:41:00.003+08:00

While I was browsing through the internet to look for any year end sales on sports attires, I stumbled upon a Kenny Sia’s blog posting which I think worth to be posted in my blog to ridicule mankind’s absurdity and ability to act without ethics.

I guess things would go out of hand if they decided to go for the "Buy ONE free One" strategy.

Click here for Kenny Sia's post.

(if) Runner's World Interviewed Andrew

2008-12-01T20:50:00.005+08:00

Andrew Ng is a student from Univesiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. Majoring in Literature, he now found a whole new literary meaning in running ever since it was introduced by a friend not long ago.

Runner's World had the oppotunity to interview him about his experience in KRI 12.8km road race last sunday in Ipoh recently.

*****

RW: How'd the race go? Did you have a strategy worked out heading into it, or did you just wing it?
AN: I think I ‘wing’ it. Once the signal was given to start the race, I ran hard for about 1 – 2km. Then, I slowed down and kept to a moderate pace. I build up some speed according to my recovery rate; I pushed myself from time to time whenever I felt I’ve recovered.

.
RW: For a first timer in a long distance race, how do you think you did in this 12.8km race?
AN: Well, as you said I’m only a first timer. I’m just happy to be able to finish a 12.8km race. And clocking in at 1:30:40 was a time I expect to get after just 19 times of training.

.
RW: Do you think you could have done better if you got more time to train? You’ve told me that you only started training last month.
AN: I would think so. I’ve noticed the development of my running through out my 19 trainings that I had. I remember my first training; after just 800meters of slow run I stopped and panted as if I’m dying.

.
But by the 10th training, I’ve already reached the 6km mark and able to run a 30 - 40minutes of non-stop running. On my 12th training, I’ve reached my 7km mark. Then by my 17th training, I finally reached my 10km in 1hr 11min 39sec. The KRI 12.8km run was actually my 20th training; hitting my 12.8km mark was a success to me because I had never reached that distance before.

.
I can only imagine if KRI 12.8km race day was my 100th training. Who knows, maybe I may be one of those top ten finisher.

.
RW: Did you get any strange looks before, during and after the race?
AN: I don’t know about the ‘during’ and ‘after’ the race look but I can share with you the ‘before’ thing. While registering and colleting our goodies, there was this guy who hinted to me that I’m unfit to run a long distance run – but he did not said it directly, maybe not even intentionally.

.
As you can see, I’m very plump in size and weighing between 68-70kg while having a short stature will eventually give people an impression that I’m an unfit person.

.
After the race, I met him again. And lo and behold, he had to preach me the ‘FIT’ sermon again. I’m okay with it. In fact, it motivates me. I read in runner’s world magazine about a runner who lost 38kgs through running.
.
RW: I see that you are wearing a new outfit. What happen to your “Pasar Malam” bought pants and vest?
AN: Yes, bought it a day before the race at Ipoh parade. I though if I want to take running seriously I therefore need to invest on quality attires. It did boost my spirit a little bit since I now look like a professional runner.

.
RW: Tell me more about the difficulties you faced in the race.
AN: I would say that the last 3 kilometers were the hardest. It’s just the feeling I had because the finishing line was in sight but it felt like its taking a long time to reach. It was a time when the runner’s psychological effect of “Hitting the Wall” was possible. And I’m so afraid of that.

.
RW: Did you have a lot going on in your head when you run?

AN: A little bit. Mostly laconic thoughts which able to motivate me to keep on running such as "FASTER-LAH", "RUN FATBOY RUN!", "COME ON!". Sometimes I think there's a group of little cheerleaders living in my head.
.

RW: I heard you're part of a running club in Penang.
AN: Yes. It’s a new club by the name of Team Miracle Mile. I encourage all readers who are reading this to be part of this running club. This club changed my life. As you all know, I’m not much of a runner before but I after being afflicted with Team Miracle Mile, I started running passionately.

.
By the way, if you are one of the early birds to join Team Miracle Mile, you’ll get a free Mizuno running vest worth RM59.90 for FREE!

.
RW: So, what is next for you now that you’ve completed your first ever long distance race?
AN: I will continue running and aim for a better timing every each race. I would also like to improve on my training which means I need to read more books or online facts by experts. Another thing I’m looking forward to is diet which I believe may enhance my running performance.

KRI 12.8km Road Race Result

2008-12-01T10:51:00.003+08:00

It's finally over and i completed my first ever long distance running.

The preparation since last month really paid off. From my 1st training till my 19th training, there were consistant improvement in every training.

As I expected, i pretty much knew that i will finish the race in about 1 and a 1/2 hour, after i monitored and analyzed the timing i clocked in through out my past training. So, for a 12.8km run, i clocked in at 1hour 30minutes 40seconds.

I manage to clock in a very good timing at the 6km mark at 40minutes 36seconds during the race, compared to my personal best timing which i clocked in during training at 48minutes 44seconds. That's 8 minutes of improvement. THANKS TO POWERBAR!

But personally, i think 12.8km run for a beginner like me is too much to handle. My last 3km was the hardest: legs were heavy, eyes were closing, breathing was hard, mentally weak = wanna give up.

But i'm glad and happy that I'm able to set a benchmark for myself for the next race. I'm looking forward for the next 10km run.

My 19th Training

2008-11-27T10:27:00.002+08:00

My 19th training, probably the last one before KRI 12.8km run this Sunday.

Met up with Joshua at Botanical Garden at 8pm.

The last time i ran in Botanical Garden, I clocked in at 12mins 49sec for the first round. After resting, i went for the second round which I clocked in at 12min 54sec.

But today, my timing is much better. After a 10minutes warm up run, we ran using the bigger loop of the route. Joshua was merciful enough to allow me to run according to my own pace while he followed. One thing i felt is that by running with a faster runner, I tend to push my pace faster.

I clocked in at 11min++ on my first lap. Without stopping, I'm able to finish two laps in 24mins 19sec. It's a better timing than my previous record.

3 more days to go and counting...

Road Bully

2008-11-27T00:29:00.003+08:00

The road was clear. I turned to the right and all of the sudden i heard a pathetic motorbike's honk... the rider honked for a long time.

I looked at my rear view mirror, it was a motorbike, without headlights. So i assume everything had settled already. i sped off. then i notice the bike was tailing me, trying to cut me off. He managed to come to my side and shouted "BODOH". That pissed me off. I gave him a long stare.

He demanded me to stop the car. The bike cut infront of me and try slowing down my car till it halt. In his dreams, I will never stop for a road bully like him. I was thinking to ram him over but it's high risk = low return.

He gave up eventually. Or maybe he coudn't catch up on me. Come on... Nissan Sentra 1.6 VS Honda EX5???

It was a scary experience. Not knowing what to do. Lay Hoon told me next time just drive straight into the Police station and NEVER ever stop for the road bully.

My 18th Training

2008-11-24T18:19:00.002+08:00

Did 1.4km warm up run first. Knees were hurting at first, but later after about 1km of run, the pain dissapear.

Then did a LSD from my place to youth park and back to my place. before heading home, did another round of 1.4km around my neighbourhood. A total of 8.2km distance covered in 1hour 0min 59sec.

6 more days before race day.

Blister

2008-11-23T12:41:00.007+08:00

Race day is 7 days away and i've got a blister on my foot on the 17th Training. The blister is on my left foot, just at the side of my forefoot where the big toe is.

(above: the punctured blister)

If running a 10km can cause you a blister... i can only imagine what will happen after the KRI 12.8km run... gosh! What will happen if this is the Penang bridge run? amputation?!?!

Well, i guess it's the price to pay to play

(according to a website article in suite101.com, this blister of mine is a small one. So no worries.)

My 17th Training

2008-11-22T11:20:00.002+08:00

I reached my 10km mark in 1hr 11min 39sec

My 16th Training

2008-11-21T20:32:00.005+08:00

The venue for my 16th Training:
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PADANG KOTA LAMA

Here's how i did my warm-up. I cycled from my place to Padang Kota Lama. That's a total of 3.8Km of cycling.

When reached, i locked the mountain bike and head straight to running. One round of Padang Kota Lama is 1.1Km.

Did 4 rounds. That's a total of 4.4Km. My previous record for 4Km was 29min and 40sec.

For a 4.4Km, I managed to clock in at 29min 54sec. In compare with the timing above, i think i've improved and did much better.

It's important to start strong to achieve a better timing, which i did in this 16th training. And then on my last lap, i looked at my time-watch and gave a strong run again.

I could had went on somemore, but it was getting dark. Cycled another 3.8km back home.

Tommorow, i need to reach my 9km mark.

15th Training - NOS Training

2008-11-19T22:37:00.002+08:00

NOS Training in USM stadium today despite raining. I just need to do it, no time already 11more days to go.

Here's the result for 400 meters full force running:

1st Lap - 1.50

2nd Lap - 1:43

3rd Lap - 1:43

4th Lap - 1:37

I'm much more satisfied with my NOS training today compared to my as NOS training. I suprised myself with the timing. I was able to improve consistantly from the 1st Lap till the 4th Lap. I was happy to maintain 1:43 for two laps.

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4th Lap timing was suprising. I never thought i could clock in below 1:40.

14th Training

2008-11-18T19:40:00.004+08:00

It was raining yesterday. So, i did not make it for training for two days in a row. Today I manage to train again.

I plan to break my 8Km mark by today. Looking at the remaining days i have, i am actually running out of time: 12 more days to go. By right, i should be reaching 10km non-stop running.

No motivation today. I wanted to do an 8Km non stop LSD, but it seems like running round and round around my neigbourhood is a boring run.

Compare this with my previous running, i was able to run to Padang Kota Clock Tower and then ran back to my house. It was a 7.5Km and i could finished it, But today, i only merely did a 5.4Km in 42min 21sec.

I guess i need direction and goal aka Finish line. I believe my previous run towards Padang Kota was achievable because i've set the direction and goal - Padang kota's Clock Tower. While running, i constantly focus and think of the clock tower which i need to reach. Hence, i did.

My 13th Training

2008-11-17T01:38:00.004+08:00

Last Friday i supposed to do my NOS training. Unfortunately, it rained.

Then yesterday (saturday) was supposed to be the day for me to compesate my postponed training. But unfortunately again, i was busy helping my dad in his Anti-ISA vigil preparation. Imagine me preparing 500 cups and candles for the event... i need 'human rights' also you know...

Then there is today (Sunday). Thank God that Lay Hoon wanted to work out today. So we went to Botanical Gardens.

Botanical Garden is not a great place to train your run especially if it's a weeknend in the evening. Today, I thought after the Penang Bridge run, there will be lesser people. I was wrong, the place was jammed pack with tourist.

Anyway, I'm still trying to find how far exactly is the length of Botanical Garden's route.

I was rushing to finish my training today. So I simply did one big round of Botanical Garden's route which i clocked in at 12mins 49sec.

The second try, i clocked in at 12min 54sec.

Point to note:

I seriously need to get use to running up on slope. I struggle a lot running up the slope area. It wears out a lot of energy. I think NOS training may help.

The need to plan while running is important. I felt that today i've learnt how to avoid people while running. How to squeeze through between crowds while running. There were people who ran and suddenly switched to the side without giving any signal, it broke my momentum.

My 12th Training

2008-11-13T20:05:00.006+08:00

Started my run Today at 5.30pm. That's after i watched Prefontaine Biographical movie "Without Limits". Instead of watching 'feel good' movie for the past two days, i got this theory, that watching movies such as "Without Limits" may boost my endurance.

My run today started from my home, stated in the map 'Kampung Syed'. i ran all the way to the clock tower in Padang Kota as it is shown in the map. After that, without stopping, i ran back to my place using the same road.

The distance is 7.5Km. Which means i hit my 7Km mark finally. I clocked in at 56min 15sec. Congratulation! I rewarded my self a can of GATORADE.

10th and 11th Training.

2008-11-13T00:59:00.006+08:00

I'm back in Penang. So, it means that i need to find a new training venue. Thank God for Google map. I've found a few places which is near my place.

This is Gurney drive. According to Google Map, running from one end to the other will be 2Km. So, i run from point A to B and back to A again, i'll achieve an ammount of 4Km of running.

This is around my place - Jalan Edgecumbe. One round of this is 1.4Km. So,if one of the training if i tak ouas hati with my running, i'll run another 1.4Km for fun.

This is the map of Padang Kota. Currently, thismap cannot be used because the Pdang Kota road is closed for the "Cancelled" Tennis Tournament. But runnin around here will be great because the food court is near and the Uncle who sells nice and fresh fruits is at Jalan Tun Syed Shah Barakbah. One round of this is 1.1Km.

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10th Training:

On Tuesday, after i recovered from my Police detention trauma :-), I head straight to training in the evening at 6.30pm, right after watching 'The Simpsons" in Starworld.

I did the Gurney venue. It was a bad timing, i couldn't judge when i should run faster. I clocked 4Km at 31min 58sec.

Tak Puas hati, I ran another 1.4Km around my neigbourhood.

11th Training:

On Wednesday, I head to training slightly earlier - 6pm, right after watching 'Whoose Line is it anyway' in Starworld. I did the Gurney venue.

I would like to change tactic. I planned to run a little faster than normal until my leg grew tired than i'll start jogging. Then after when my leg recover its energy back again, i'll start pushing myself again.

My timing was abit better. I clocked in 4Km at 28min 17sec. That tactic saves me around 4minutes.

Tommorow, I'll try running in Padang Kota Lama. and perhaps the day after, i''ll do my horrible NOS training in USM stadium.

Cannot Train Today.

2008-11-10T23:33:00.007+08:00

I can't train today (10th November 2008)

But i got a very damn good reason for it.

Heard about the 23 arrested at Bersih gathering?

Yes? Yar, I'm one of the 23.

It was either a candlelight vigil against ISA or the first anniversary of BERSIH gathering or RPK release Celebration. I'm not sure.

I did not plan to go there. I was just hitching a ride home to Penang on my dad's car who was here for that event with 3 other friends. One of them was Ong Boon Keong.

Out of generous favor, i decided to help Ong B.K to snap some photos to document the event.

To cut the story short, I was arrested when I wanted to snap a shot on two police officers rough-handling one of the arrested people. Suddenly, one of them hit my camera and wanted to take it away. I resisted and said "Tuan, saya hanya buat kerja saya".

Right after i said that, two police officers grab my shoulders and waist - push me into the BLACK MARIA TRUCK. It happened so fast.
I got good reasons to say that i'm not part of the illegal gathering:

1.) I wasn't even wearing yellow, or Anti-ISA T-shirt or FREE RPK T-shirt.
2.) I came late. When i reached, The riot-police was already in position to disperse the crowd.
3.) I'm part of the 'media' people. Just helping Ong to document. I was just doing my job. (I later found out a Malaysiakini Cameraman was in the truck with me.)

Before I know it. I was detain in the PJ Police Station for about 8hours. We were in a stress position - they put us outside, we were very tired and sleepy but weren't able to sleep.

After 2 statements were given to the Inspecting Officer and photographs taken on me like criminals do, I was released at about 7.30am. My Papa jamin me out. Thanks dad!

But the thing i don't like is that i got to go back to the PJ Police Station by 24th November 2008 or esle my dad will be RM2000 poorer.

It was my first experience. It was worth it. MP Tony Puah, Ronnie Liu and ADUN Lau Weng San was also arrested. I mean, how often do you get to be in the same truck with the Opposition Politicians. Somemore it's a Black Maria Truck leh...

P.S: Oh yar, Ong Boon Keong was arrested too. So it was fair... both of us kena, hahaha. He was helpful, since he was very experience in such situation. Thanks Ong!

This is a video recorded by MediaRakyat. Try to look for me. I'm the nervous nail-biting little kid with the 'pony tail'...

My 9th training.

2008-11-08T18:51:00.002+08:00

Normal training yesterday.

My previous 4km timing was 29mins 46sec.

On my 9th training yestrday i clocked in an improve time of 29min 40sec. But i was hopping to achieve better than that.

I continue to push myself to reach the 5th KM. Clocked in 37min 30sec. A slight 8sec improvement from my previous 4th training.

My 8th Training: Off-track running - Post-mortem

2008-11-08T18:31:00.003+08:00

All the while i was training and running in the stadium's track. It was flat and smooth track. I just run, sometimes even closing my eye and run. It was boring but easy.

Running around the UKM campus gives me an idea of how KRI 12.8Km run gonna be. It's a lot of different from the track training in the UKM stadium. Here are some of my thoughts.

First thing, running on the road hurts my knees more. I can literally feel the impact as my feet stomp on the hard pavement while i was running.

Second thing, there's uphill road, something which i haven't gone through before. Ooo gravity... you mean a whole new thing to me when i was running uphill the other day.

Third thing, obstacles are everywhere - people walking slowly in front of you tend to slow your pace. Rubbish bin in the middle of no where and the smell of it... er... slow me down. I got to watch out for traffic as well. Gotta watch out for Cars and motorbikes while running. Oh ya, i think this something to add on, MONKEYS. they are everywhere in UKM. I got to avoid them when i saw a group of them, and one of them (i think it's the Alpha Male) gave me the warning teeth showing sound...

I ran a total of 6.2km in 54min 12sec. If you one to compare me with a more experience runner like Joshua, by the time i finish 6Km, he will will be sitting down resting and sipping through his 2nd bottle of gatorade already.

The positive point of this training is that i manage to run for nearly an hour without stopping. KUDOS!

My 7th Training - NOS training

2008-11-06T16:23:00.004+08:00

Yesterday was my first NOS training and all i can say is this:

I hate it.

It's way too tiring and panful. I felt that i did not sweat enough and did not train enough. After 4 laps of NOS, i decided to go home already. Too tired to finish my remaining jog.

My timing was not consistent. When they told me to run as if a dog was chasing after me, i imagined a rottweiler. Then the 2nd Lap, I imagined my home raised PUG chasing after me.

1st Lap - 1:47:22

2nd Lap - 1:53:03

3rd Lap - 1:48:03

4th Lap - 1:51:50

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But today, i'm going off-track. Here's my running path:

Its in UKM. One round, according to the measurement in Google Map, it is 3.1Km. Today i'll be doing Long Slow Distance Training.

My 6th Training.

2008-11-06T15:48:00.002+08:00

My 6th training was on Monday, 4th November 2008.

For the 6th training, i wanted slow jogged for 30minutes non-stop.

I like this training ( I think it's called LSD). It enables me to manage my running and stamina easily. And every time i do the LSD, i feel very satisfied with my training.

I felt very good for this training. instead of doing just 30minutes, i pushed myself to 48 minutes of non-stop jog.

48minutes of slow jog is equal to the amount of time i watched one episode of 'Heroes' plus advertisments.

For the 6th Training, I've reached my 6Km mark in 48min 44sec.

Kebun Bunga Charity Run - 6km

2008-11-03T10:18:00.002+08:00

I was thinking. Maybe this run is much more ideal for me BUT i've already signed up for the 12Km KRI run.

Maybe this could be the 'run' that can roughly gimme a little exposure of what is coming.

Kebun Bunga Charity Run 2008
Date: 23rd November 2008
Time: 7.30am
Venue: Youth Park, Penang
Distance: 6km
Finishing Time: 90 minutes
Route: Youth park - Botanical Garden - Jalan Utama

Organizer: YB Jason Ong
Entry Fee: RM12 for Adults, RM7 for children
Closing Date: 12th November 2008
Entry Form available at:
1) Olympic Sports & Fitness Sdn Bhd - 9, Pangkor Road, 10050 Penang
2) Kwong Wah Yit Poh - 19, Lebuh Presgrave, 10300 Penang
3) Startech Tele-Communication - Kompleks Bk Jambul 3A-2-71, 11900 Penang
Contacts:
1) Jason Tan 012-4720099
2) Mr Teh 012-5664400
3) Timothy 016-4571991
4) Steve 012-4773066

Prize:
1) Winner medals for all categories
2) Finisher medal, participation certificate and lucky draw
3) more than 30 lucky draw prizes to be given out
First lucky draw prize - Motor-cycle

It's only 6Km, I think I can... I'm already doing 5km every training. What's another kilometer to me, right??

My 5th Training

2008-11-03T09:41:00.002+08:00

Saturday 1st November 2008 was my 5th training.

Two things to take note:

1.) My appetite had grown bigger. I will have my dinner at 7pm and got hungry again at 10pm.

2.) My left knee was hurting after 5th training. Thank goodness I’m resting the next day. I guess I’m pushing myself too much. Need to find some alternative practice that uses less of my leg but still improves my stamina.

I did a 2km experiment. Every 100meters i will jog, then the next 100meters, I will stride. The first set of 2km i managed to achieve 10mins 57sec.

The 2nd set of 2Km experiment was not consistent. The timing was 17mins 45sec. It was a bad experiment. My body cannot handle such training. It'll kill me. Time to think of a new and quick way.

I went for another 1Km jog to achieve my 5Km criteria for every training.

My 4th Training

2008-11-03T09:15:00.002+08:00

My 4th Training was on Friday 31st October 2008.

As usual, one round of warm up jog and 10 minutes of stretching. Then munch some peanuts and one banana. Good to go.

I was planning to improve my 4Km time. My last training, i recorded only 3.5Km when i reached the 30th minute.

It was good this time. Managed to finish 4km in 29mins 46sec.

Push myself somemore to finish 5Km in 37mins 38sec.

I was brought back to the time i first watched the movie 'Babe' and remember the words of Farmer Hoggett...

Narrator: And though every single human in the stands or in the commentary boxes was at a complete loss for words, the man who in his life had uttered fewer words than any of them knew exactly what to say.
Farmer Hoggett: That'll do, pig. That'll do

(Babe: 1995)

That'll do, Andrew. That'll do.

My 3rd Training

2008-10-30T22:18:00.003+08:00

Yesterday’s training was incredible I hit my 5Km mark already. Following Joshua Hooi’s advice, I jog for 30minutes non-stop and was able to reached around 3.8Km.
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I pushed myself to the limits and was able to reach 5Km in…
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39minutes 11seconds.
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And the best part is, I still got 30days to train and to improve for my KRI race.

Today cannot training because couldn't reach back in time. I went to Joshua's school (SMK Selayang Bahru) to help out with KOMAS workshop. When it ended it was already 4pm. The rush hour in KL was so hectic. Couldn't get into the KTM Komuter 3 times. Reach UKM around 7pm and it was getting dark already.

Tomorrow. I will run.

You Can Do It!!

Run Andrew Run!

2008-10-30T21:08:00.004+08:00

I took it as a personal challenge. I want to train for the KRI 12.8km Road Race in Ipoh. I want to challenge myself!

In about 30 days from now, I want to be able to finish the 12.8km. The timing? I'm still working on it but the most important goal for me right now is to be able to finish the race. I will reveal the timing I want to achieve on the eve of the race.

That will explain my previous blog entry. I bought the shoe not for style but for a comfortable and successful run. I wasted one day training because I went looking for shoes. Wasted so much time, at the end of the day, I bought an original Asics shoe from the Pasar Malam for a ridiculous cheapo price.

I already started my training on Sunday (26th October 2008) and Monday (27th October 2008). The first training is always the hardest one and also the most motivated one. It was tough. It felt like an asthma attack. Here’s what happened on 26th October 2008:

Feeling so motivated, I felt so light (in my head maybe) and I thought I could run without panting heavily. I was wrong. Just after two rounds of 4oo meters I ‘HihahiHAa’ already. I stopped. I thought resting a little bit will help, so after resting for like 5minutes (catching my breath) I went for 4oometers sprint (crazy isn’t it? Told you I was motivated, but stupidly motivated). After that I want to vomit already… I rested very long…

After a long rest and a can of 100plus I went for a very-very slow jog. Here’s the running log:

1. Jogged 300meters 2. Then walk 100meters3. Jogged 300meters again4. Then walk the remaining 100meters5. Jogged my last 300meters6. Too tired already. Go back.

For the second training, I was more prepared. Surfed the net to check out some tips. Also went to Joshua’s blog to see his training methods. I ate 90grams of peanuts. Did 15minutes of warm up and was ready to go.

It was better this time. I manage to do 2.2Km non stop in 16 minutes give or take. I went for a slow jog for about 1.8Km. All together my training today amounted of 4Km of running.

It was satisfying. It was a sign that i still can do it.... (i was having those crystalized moment)

Tips suggested to me to take rest so that I can recover and reenergized. So i did not do anything the next day.

I hope at the end of the day when I cross the finish line of the KRI race, I can testify to all my FAT and BEER-BELLIED friends that “If I can do it… So can you! YOU CAN DO IT!”

I'll leave you with this to be motivated:

Asics Gel 1120 Mens

2008-10-27T23:55:00.006+08:00

Wah! come and see my new shoes ah?

Nice-leh??

The best thing about it is that I bought it from 'PASAR MALAM".

The market price for this shoe is around RM250 - RM300

and i got it for RM80.00

And i got to Thank our KASTAM officers

Rumours has it that, all this imported shoes are actually samples.

You see, everytime a product from outside Malaysia comes in, the KASTAM officers will ask for one sample. The reason is to make sure that the imported product in the shipment is the same with the sample.

So when they got too many samples and somemore if the shoes are not their size, they will come to Bangi Pasar Malam and sell it-lor.

If anyone of you want nice and branded sport shoes, let me know. Or just come to Bangi Pasar Malam every Tuesday and Saturday from 6pm to 10pm.

“Revolusi '48” By Fahmi Reza – Revisioning Our National History.

2008-10-21T18:26:00.004+08:00

This is a documentary about the unheard Revolution by Parti Komunis Malaya (PKM) against the British colonialist in the year 1948. What Fahmi Reza is doing is an act of Revisioning, a term popularly used by New Historicist /Historian. Giving the exiled freedom fighters of Malaya a voice, Revolusi 48 is also giving the present generation an alternative choice of Heroes and Heroine.

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Revolusi 48, as it is being promoted, to be a propaganda documentary, justifying PKM’s deeds and correcting all false accusation of the past about them. It is a counter resistant strategy towards the British Colonialist and right wing politician which literally paint the PKM’s outlook – leaving out PKM’s contribution to the Malaya independence and giving them no credit while demonizing them.

In a lay man’s point of view, revolution is a movement or rather a circular religion which pushes and motivates the people to carry out drastic change. The Revolution back then was seen as a great deal for hasten independence in Malaya. The Revolusi 48 has not ended yet. To some, it only ends when the objective of drastic change had been achieved. Metaphorically, the revolusi 48 was packed and sealed into a time capsule by the authority. But when such political enthusiasm was capsulated, it’s a matter of time that the compressed urges of the unfinished revolution began to build from time to time and soon may explode. The outcome of such enthusiasm explosion is still unknown and I’ll leave it to Political and Social scientist to throw in their predictions.

The Revolusi 48 died not because it is a bad idea but because it loses human support. The lacking of support was due to the massive arrest, British propaganda and the new village projects. A dead revolution can be revived, it only takes a spark.

Now, on the matter of spreading such information (as in the revisioning documentary of Revolusi 48) to the general public, I’ll suggest that political scientists and social science researchers should study the influence and the reaction of the society upon being edified with such information. Will there be a second great social and political awakening? Only time will tell. Even if its not, that doesn’t mean Fahmi Reza’s documentary fails because I am sure that is not his primary objective.

Fahmi Reza’s Revolusi 48 is a ‘must watch’ documentary and should be shown in all academic institution, not for the reason to convert people into communism but rather to remind us of the forgotten freedom fighters and to prepare us for a next Revolusi in our nation (only if needed).

Get yourself a ‘Nama Revolusi’ after watching this. Mine shall be ’Andu’ :-)

Globalization: The New Form of Colonization

2008-10-10T03:17:00.001+08:00

Much has been explored about globalization and the conclusion has very much comes to the perception that it is a good thing. As much as it’s been told and often been declared that globalization is an unavoidable wave, it has to be also halt in question to foresee its’ role in each newly established nation.

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Globalization is an invention by the west, to be more precise, nations such as the United States and the ex-imperialist nation. Screen in deeper in perspective, globalization is a movement by the richer folks.

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Only the richer nations can really penetrate into the poorer nations. Their role in the economics and politics of each nation is vast and they literally control the third world nations. The current America financial crisis is one example of how powerful nations may affect any non related countries such as Malaysia.

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In terms of culture is even worst. Young nations are forsaking their own culture and embracing the culture of the west. Globalization they say, claiming that it is a form of transculturation and to be seen as a natural progress but Postcolonialist describes such event as cultural hegemony – meaning a domination of culture in the minds of its colonial subjects.

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The damage has been done. There is no turning back. To cleanse such matter will seriously need a process famous in George Orwell’s 1984, RE-EDUCATION. The People’s Republic of China did it before; they call it ‘Cultural Revolution’.

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Only the purest Communist Ideology can save us.

Evolving Vernacular School

2008-10-02T12:05:00.003+08:00

“Can balance be found between modernity and traditionalism?” this are the question ask by Dr. Raihanah in her essay Celebrating Malaysia Voices: A Multicultural Perspective. It’s a question that needs to be answered through out the process of nation building. It’s a question of subjectivity with a very subjective answer as the answer would change as time pass.

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Too many consideration need to be taken in perspective in the matter of striking a balance of traditionalism and modernity. Just to name a few, the issue of western culture invading the east, globalization in terms of technology which has a strong capability of wiping out our traditional values and traditonal gadgets, feminism – “how much is too much?” which also has the capability of restructuring the traditional framework of an Asian family which is known to be patriarchal.

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Raihanah’s essay does trigger much discussion into many different discourses but this time I will like to write my thoughts about the vernacular school in Malaysia.

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Now, how is that related with her question of balancing modernity and traditionalism? My statement is simply this: the vernacular school - that is the Chinese and the Tamil school are in fact an institution of the ‘tradition’ of its respective ethnic.

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The establishment of such academic institution was primarily to achieve their objective of combating changes and preserving their relationship with their motherland – China and India. The Chinese and the Indians were immigrants brought in by their colonial masters during the colonial era. They (immigrants), in order to maintain their ethnicity, restructured the setting of the foreign land to become a place which are more familiarize to them. This would mean establishing their own school which maintains their traditions.

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In my honest opinion, when the Chinese and the Indians were enrolled in to be a citizen of Malaya, such vernacular school should also be enrolled to become a national school, meaning restructuring their academic curriculum / method / policy. Aggressive as it may sound, it is by no means to indicate racial cleansing or radical assimilation towards the minority.

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The preservation of the vernacular school was merely a political agenda. It was the best and lucrative ways to draw votes for General Elections back in the 50s; I guess it still has not change, new vernacular schools were built from time to time (obviously when general elections are coming).

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Modernity needs to be part of the vernacular school system. Modern – adapting and relating to the present time – vernacular schools need to adapt with the need of the nation that change from time to time, that means to sacrifice some of its tradition value of the school, e.g: language. In our political situation here in Malaysia, racial base politics are slowly losing its popularity grip. Why is it so? – Plainly because racial politics is a traditional paradigm. It’s a matter of time vernacular school will lose its significance.

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Vernacular school needs to be injected with some sense of modernity. It needs to be gradually phasing out to become a “Sekolah Wawasan” which I seriously believe such vernacular school has the capability to become one. It needs to seriously consider using the national language to teach. I do not mean to forgo the lingua franca of the minority. The minority languages can still be learned by having classes for students who wish to learn.

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Diversify the school by encouraging more students from other ethnics to join in. Vernacular School has an awful label – vernacular school is also known as the Segregated School. Such system of segregation was mention by J.S Furnivall* - “Mix but do not combine” (Furnivall 1939:446). He was describing a society under the system of the colonizer. Not much had changed since we freed our self from the British.

.
Striking a balance between modernity and traditionalism is a tricky business. Definitely such idea cannot be accepted by many traditionalists but it is an idea that has a natural flow of direction – everything changes, nothing is constant, everything evolves with time; and vernacular school is one of them. So there's no point to resist it.

*Furnivall, J.S. 1939. Netherlands India: A study of Plural Economy. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Selamat Hari Raya.

2008-10-01T04:03:00.002+08:00

Selamat Hari Raya. Maaf Zahir & Batin.
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I really bersyukur because Malaysia is a country with many festive celebration. And festive celebration is very synonymous with good free flow of food. I don't mean to sound like a pig but seriously such habits and mindset had now turn into some sort of culture (or am i speaking this on behalf of myself?)
.
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I already plan for Raya already, even though it has nothing to do with my ethnicity. Not much invitation this year though. but i guess it is better that way.
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1st day of Raya, No invitation from anybody. that's very obvious because usually the first day of Raya is reserved for praying, visiting the kubur (cemetery) and visiting their older folks.
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2nd Day of Raya, Miss Reene Ariffah invited me to her house. She was my sixth form classmate back in MBS. It will be a small reunion with all my classmates. And yes, i'm ready for all the painful question about my weight and looks.
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3rd Day of Raya, Mohd. Razif. i've been faithfully attending his house every Raya. Although the food is very good, that's not my main intention going there. Reason is, he is oneof my closest malay friend i ever had. I guess for the third day of raya, i'll be there at his place for the whole day.
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After Hari Raya, we still got Deepavali to look forward to.
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God Bless Malaysia.

B.B

2008-09-30T07:34:00.001+08:00

Although The Boys Brigade in Malaysia is a ministry I involve since young, there were no recorded posting about it in my blog ever before. Therefore, I think it’s about time that I write about it. The timing, somehow felt like a mix feeling – right and wrong at the same time.
.
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I’m with the Boys Brigade (BB) in Malaysia, holding the rank of Warrant Officer. Climb up the ladder of rank and file from an innocent recruit to the highest rank of Staff Sergeant. After reaching the maximum age as a member, the Officer council decided to promote me to the rank of Warrant Officer until now. I was in the BB since I was in standard 3. I was 9 years old then. Now I’m already 24 years old.
.
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15 years is a long time. Now here comes the bomb:
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I’m sick of it. I’m freaking tired. Whenever somebody came to me and talked to me about BB, I felt this uncertainty, this burden, this feeling of trouble and this annoying headache which later leads to confusion and anger. There are times when I thought to myself why I’m doing this.
.
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It was not like this all the time. There was a sense of direction at first, at least personally. But seriously, serving for 10 years, at my age, in my environment, in such globalize and fast moving world. My joy of serving had now vanished. I’ve lost it. Maybe what I’m trying to say here is that there are too many things happening – too many disappointments. And it somehow constantly repeating itself annually. 10 years of endurance is too much I guess.
.
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When I got my acceptance to do my Master in UKM, I was very glad actually. Despite all my complains about the new place I’m studying and living, I’m actually quite happy. I like it here. I never thought going into an “exile” felt that way.(which one of my church member who prayed for me mention that my ‘going away’ to study in UKM is like going into exile and when return, will return with wisdom).
.
.
So, the other day, I bump into one of my BB member. We talked, and he tells me about the internal problems and the future plans of our company*. He also mention about how he wished that I would be back soon to be involve again in the company and how I can greatly contribute to the company. He also said how the company needs people like me. I felt ashamed and disappointed – I felt that he shouldn’t say things like that to me. I know his intention was to encourage me. But it didn’t. It scares the crap out of me.
.
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The timing was right because I got time to think and finally got my words right to write about it. While for the wrong timing – well, it just never felt right to rant my dissatisfaction to which anytime at all about such matter. It basically sums up the reason why I don’t write or talk about BB in the cyber space or in my personal space even though it revolves around my life. It felt somehow as if I’m relieving myself from BB, to put it more bluntly – escaping from BB. Yes, it is a form of escapism.
.
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This is Andrew’s soul vomiting. Finally.
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.

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*”company” refers to the subdivision of a battalion. Boys’ Brigade uses such framework to group its member around Malaysia.

From the depths of Hell.

2008-09-25T12:43:00.004+08:00

I was supposed to write about it right after it happened but the incident was too dramatic and traumatic to write. Now after 3 weeks had passed, I’ve finally found the words to write what had happened. So here it goes:

It was showing some signs that it will soon rain while i was on my way to my hostel right after class. it was time for Lunch and i was a little hungry already.

I was contemplating whether should I 'bungkus' or eat there. But I decided to eat at the ‘medan selera’ near my Hostel at Bandar Baru Bangi Seksyen 1 because I wouldn't want to pollute the world with the Styrofoam wrapping my food.

It rained. Later, the weather got worst. It rained so heavily and the wind was blowing fiercely. This went on for like 30 – 40 minutes non-stop heavy rain. Soon it started to flood the drain. I began to notice the manhole unable to contain the water underneath – vibrates. Yes, the smell was horrible but that was not the worst part of the story.

The heavy rain, I presume flooded the drain and also the underground sewage pipe hole. And because of that, it drove out lots of RATS and COCKROAHES from the pits of hell!!!

Well, where would you think such creature will go when they are floated up by the heavy rain and fast rising flood? Where else if not into the food stall which I was eating, obviously it’s because the place I’m eating is sheltered, dry and the best of all for the dirty creatures – there was FOOD!!!!

The situation was similar with a cheap “B” grade Horror Movie – “The Attacks of Rats and Cockroaches”. Rats were on the table… cockroaches were crawling up customers pants (by the way have you seen white cockroaches before? Ya, it came out from the depths of the sewer to say HI).

It was raining, customers cannot run away. The restaurant workers were helping the customers to calm down. And the workers thought it was a good idea to kill the rats and cockroaches by hitting them with a steal rod. Bad idea. The smell of dead, wet and bloody rat made customers puked.

As soon as the rain slowed down, I immediately went to my motorcycle. Started my bike, and guess what popped out from my Jaguh’s exhaust pipe – a rat. Probably seeking dry and warm place to rest. And I think I squash one underneath my tire as I rush my way out from that place, I heard a squeaking sound in pain.

Just as I thought everything was over, as I was unpacking my bag, a cockroach crawl out from my bag. That “SiewKeong” was History.

Just watched Ratatouille two days ago. Many watch it as a comedy, to me it was horror.

Tamil and Telegu version of Zidane's Head Butt

2008-09-24T22:39:00.004+08:00

ORIGINAL VERSION .

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.
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TELUGU VERSION

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TAMIL VERSION

Between Pak Lah & Julius Caesar

2008-09-21T01:58:00.006+08:00

I can only imagine how Pak Lah felt in the meeting room with all the Umno supreme council members . The pressure and the tension - hearing the words from the heart of his fellow followers. His followers and supporters, once supported him and defended him, now suggesting that he should resign early instead of the 2010 plan.

Vice-president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Youth chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, Wanita chief Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz and supreme council member Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal pour out their hearts - this time in a very serious tone.

One can't help but to think that behind all this daring move by the supreme council and indirectly from the grass-roots, there's a big possibility that Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohammad may be the master mind of this humble revolt.

UMNO from Perlis had openly declared their thoughts about Pak Lah's reign. They want a speedier transition. UMNO from Penang, his home-state, has been silent over the matter. Ahmad Ismail's incident drill deeper the pits of hell for Pak Lah's fall. Their silence is as good as saying "You are on your own bro". It makes you wonder now that he do not command any confidence from his loyal supporters - can he even "secure the minimum 58 nominations required to defend his presidency" said Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz.

I cannot help but to pity Pak Lah. It seems like the whole world is against him. I wonder whether he cries to sleep at night (i hope some reporters may have the guts to ask Jeane Abdullah). But then again, this is politics. It's a dog eats dog world. Like Julius Caesar, who was stabbed not by his enemies but by his loyal followers. Similar with Pak Lah, many will think that Anwar Ibrahim will bring him down, but instead it is his own UMNO kaki.

LOMPAT KERUSI

2008-09-18T17:13:00.005+08:00

TERKINI... Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim berjaya memperolehi 42 kerusi tambahan.

18 kerusi dari IKEA

14 kerusi dari COURTS MAMMOTH

10 kerusi dari FELLA DESIGN

Driving Thoughts

2008-09-15T12:53:00.003+08:00

When a car infront of us is slowing us down,

We call the driver "Idiot"

When a car drive past us very fast,

We call them "Crazy".

Mamak Effect

2008-09-10T15:02:00.003+08:00

Raja Petra Kamarudin claims that a new form of Mad Cow disease had reached its dangerous level. It seems Indian Muslim are the only one to manifest its outrageous symptoms as reported by RPK.

Pictures courtesy Kwong Wah Yit Poh

Human Rights dilemma

2008-09-09T16:03:00.003+08:00

People were clapping and cheering. Some even stand up to cheer and clap. The lady beside me was drying up the tears in her eyes with tissue paper.

It's very disturbing to see people championing the rights of the homosexuals.

But seriously, if you were at the Freedom film Festival when they were showing the 30minutes documentary entitled ‘Pecah Lobang’ by Poh Si teng; I bet you will be giving the show a standing ovation as well if you watch it.

It was well arranged and recorded to portray the hardship of the “Mak Nyah”. You can’t help but to pity them instantly.

Being a Christian and a human rights believer is a mind suicidal attempt. Brain explodes.

I’m not against them (homosexuals). I personally believe that they can be help.

But, how about the transexuals or transvertites? Is that a case of no turning back or forgiveness? What if the transexuals or transvertites realize their wrongs and becomes christian or even muslim? How to attach that ‘thing’ back?!?! You think can grow back meh?

The ADUN from Hulu Kelang, Saari bin Sungib (PAS) was there. I admit that during the screening and the discussion, I constantly peeped to see his facial expression. I wanted to know what he thinks about it.

It's worrying, disturbing, confusing, saddening and pening. I'm worried that one day my child will come to me and say "Hey Dad, I'm a homosexual and i'm proud of it... HIDUP HUMAN RIGHT!"

UiTM and 10%

2008-08-22T00:37:00.006+08:00

Ever since the suggestion made by Selangor Chief Minister Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim to allow the enrolment of non-bumiputras by 10% into UiTM, the mainstream media had not stop propagating the issue like a fire alarm.

First of all, the idea of this “10%” is only a suggestion. But the seriousness and the tension portrayed by the UiTM student did not equate with the repercussion of negativity. I personally do not see the point of gathering and the march of the protest towards the Chief Minister’s idealistic suggestion.

But think of the bright side, at least for now UiTm had done their most aggressive act since the establishment of UiTM. All this while, like a lifeless zombie, they are trapping themselves in their campus with ‘Ketuanan Melayu’ mindset while enjoying the tax money of all fellow Malaysians.
The bright side is; the issue of “10% UiTM allocation to Non-Bumis” had successfully lifted up the coconut shell to allow the frogs of UiTM to come out.

They should demonstrate more often. Perhaps, the next time, they will gather, march and demonstrate for a better and right reason.

It's great to be back!

2008-08-20T06:29:00.002+08:00

It's great to be back in Penang...

But this is not a long term break.

I need to head back again to UKM Bangi by this saturday.

Got class, you see.

But... i feel like skipping that class.

And stay a little bit longer.

Maybe till the end of this month...

Pastor Tan Har Yong

2008-08-11T14:08:00.006+08:00

The passing of Pastor Tan Har Yong is shocking and sad.

Whenever there's a man like him; ( a faithful servant of God, being look upon as an example and a mentor by others in church and a vibrant teacher) died unexpectedly... the only question that lingers in the mind of many people is "WHY".

The notion of "Death" with the question of "Why" does not make any sense in times like this. All we need to do now is not to seek answers from God. But to seek comfort from Him.

Lord I pray for Aunty Kheng Hong, Wei Hsin and Wei Yen. Give them strength and comfort. Amen.

picture taken from http://www.wesleypenang.org/photos-baptism05.htm

Hotmail Problem.

2008-07-27T20:30:00.002+08:00

Anybody having problem loading the page of HOTMAIL? I can't get into the page for the past 4 days already.

Do share with me the remedy...

I'm going crazy already.

You Pay Peanuts, You Get Monkey.

2008-07-19T13:41:00.003+08:00

On April the 3rd 2008, The Sun (The only free Malaysia Newspaper) published an article which captured my attention. It was about the Salary of our Members of Parliament (MP).

How much an MP getsSalary:

RM6,508 (tax-free)

Other perks:

RM1,200 monthly driver's fee

RM5,000 computer allowance per term

RM1,500 handphone allowance every three years

RM900 monthly phone bill allowance

RM300 daily meeting allowance (RM100 for food and other expenses)

RM 1,500 monthly entertainment allowance

A fulltime Member of Parliament will get RM10,108 (tax-free) every month. When there is the Dewan Rakyat meeting going on, they will get RM300 as a meeting allowance for every each meeting, which RM100 of it is allocated for their daily meals. So, for a 14 days Dewan Rakyat meeting, each members of Parliament will get an amount of RM4,200.

So, when there is a Dewan Rakyat meeting going on, that month itself a Member of the Parliament will get a pay-check worth RM14,308.

Sometimes their monthly pay-check may amount up to RM16,908.

If you think that is too much of a salary for a Malaysian MP, wait till you see this. Singapore’s MPs receive S$ 18,025 per month. That’s just the basic. With other special allowance and stuff, it may reach S$30,000 or more depending on your ministerial position. Which means a Singaporean MP earns at least S$360,000 a year. Convert that to Ringgit Malaysia -approximately RM900,000 a year. Nearly a million.

Their salary is incomparable to the MPs in Malaysia.

The saying goes, if you pay peanuts, you get monkey.

Can only happen in Malaysia Parliament.

The High Man

2008-07-12T17:45:00.001+08:00

The man with his long braided hair reminds me of Bob Marley. His attire looks messy but it somehow appears appropriate for him. He has a tattoo all over his left hand. He is a Malay.

Standing there on the stage, he took one long last puff of his cigarette (which I believe it contains more than just tobacco in there) till it lefts so thin that one can hardly notice it when he threw it to the ground. People were cheering after a brief introduction about him by the emcee.

With the noise all over the place, he took the microphone and recited the most poetic, patriotic and majestic words I ever heard. It felt such way because the entire people in the stadium, an estimate 5000 people that time, echoed his words every lines. Such Unity, such support, such belief... only a person that ‘high’ can capture the hearts of the masses.

Now I understand why Bob Marley had the capability to influence the people of Jamaica.

Price of Oil increased... consider migrating to somewhere cheaper, anyone?

2008-06-06T23:15:00.004+08:00

If YOU tak suka harga Pertol in Malaysia... Pi migrate to the Middle East lah!

Petrol to cost RM2.70 from midnight

2008-06-04T18:30:00.004+08:00

PETROL TO COST RM2.70 FROM MIDNIGHT!!!

Ha! GOTCHA!

2008-06-03T06:14:00.004+08:00

Spelling error in The Sun Newspaper...

Ha Ha HA HA!!!

A friend asked "So what did you get by proving this?"

Me: ............

Carpe Diem

2008-05-28T04:55:00.002+08:00

They whisper slowly in the dark,

telling all of us the same,

pledge the motto of thy lark,

living carpe diem by the name.

Eat and drink for tomorrow we die,

live towards the epistemic delight,

trusting thy guard as we all lie,

forever carpe diem I will might.

Hear and see those glistering hope,

taste and feel that dividing soul,

it guides away the rising slope,

as you carpe diem till the day we extol.

Ironic

2008-05-24T12:53:00.003+08:00

I've been seeing this logo a lot.

MUSLIMEEN UNITED

On T-Shirt, Bumper Stickers on Cars & Motorbikes and in the Internet as well.

I understand their pride in their Islamic faith...

But

Branding their religion by using the logo of Manchester United?

Isn't MAN. UTD. is often referred as the Red Devils of Old Trafford?

Are MUSLIMEEN UNITED identifying themselves as the "RED-DEVILs" MUSLIM?

Isn't it Ironic?

An Advertorial Message

2008-05-19T08:33:00.006+08:00

"hensem" tak?

ha... want to know Dr. Khir Toyo's complexion's secret?

Eat 'Tempe' everyday.

So, what are you waiting for? Go to your nearest Tempe shop while stock last!

Photos from zimbio.com & malaysiakini.com

Working out...

2008-05-16T11:12:00.006+08:00

I haven't been practicing Floorball for a long time. As a matter of fact, it has been a long long time since I exercised. The weighing machine in my house serve as my conscience, each time i look at the weighing machine, i can imagine the weighing machine mocking me...

Met Chris last week, he reminds me about Dalat Floorball training. I was not sure whether i should go. On the same day, Wai Wai 'sms'ed to inform about the training too. Hmmm... The weighing machine, Chris, Wai Wai, The weighing machine, Chris, Wai Wai, The weighing machine, Chris, Wai Wai... Is God trying to tell me something by using: The weighing machine, Chris, Wai Wai?

Suddenly, going to a floorball training has become a divine calling. Now looking back at all this as i am writing about it... it's all a bunch of crap to relate this to a Godly intervention. I mean, I can imagine God singing Shaggy's song "IT WASN"T ME".

Now, back to the training incident. I came late by the way (a great way to make an entrance), had the priviledge of running 5 rounds around the outer sports complex. The training was tough. It was so tough that i can't even turn my car's steering wheel after the training (or is it because i haven't been exercising for a long time).

Come to think about it, this training might be a divine calling after all. The training i went through was symbolically a FIRE BAPTISM. Serious, when i went home after the training, i felt so hot and was sweating even after i bathed... as usual, body aches the next day... especially the butt.

Training is not over yet. More to come next week. It's a process. Perhaps one day i may claim such statement...

At last... my arm is complete again...

Khairy Jamaluddin

2008-05-13T04:04:00.003+08:00

YB Khairy Jamaluddin is now my friend.

Don't believe me? You see...

Ha... don't play play with me ok? I got a friend in the corridors of Power.

posting idea from kennysia.com

Time

2008-05-11T16:26:00.002+08:00

In less than 24 hours, i need to hand up my 50% assignment project.

I only got the introduction finished.

I got about 19 pages to go.

and i'm blogging about it.

What a shame...

Dalam Librari

2008-04-13T09:41:00.004+08:00

Dalam librari
aku tersengguk.

Seorang tua

tersenyum menegur:

Tak guna

membuka buku

menutup mata.

Kan elok

menutup buku

membuka mata?

Mulai esoknya

dalam librari

ku tak pernah

tersenguk lagi

walau orang tua

sudah lama

tidak kusua.

Dalam librari

kini ku membaca,

mataku sering

ke kerusi orang tua

yang sudah tiada.

A. Samad Said

(diambil dari: http://www.esastera.com/asamadsaid/karya/Puisi/)

When April fools with you...

2008-04-01T17:29:00.003+08:00

I got this sms from an unknown number in the morning saying this:

Kepada yang mengenali SITI MASITAH, apabila membaca sms ini diharapkan byk2 bersabar dan tenang kerana beliau telah pun meninggalkan kita pd hari ini 5.21pg td.. Diharapkan dapat memperbanyakkan doa kepadanya agar beliau dirahmati ALLAH kerana beliau telah meninggalkan kita sekaligus meninggalkan bumi tercinta..

This girl Siti Masitah is my classmate. I don't know why, but i guess in the drowsiness of waking up in the morning to read such sms, you tend to believe it. So, i did. I was so sadden by it, shock beyond my life, i was talking to her last saturday only and now she died? By the way i have been hearing a lot of bad news abot friends and relatives died lately, so when i heard such news again, i believe it.

I call my one of my friend, Krish and told her about it convincingly. She was shock but she said something which made me re-evaluate everything. she said this: "Andrew, Please dun play a fool ok. are you sure?!?!"

After hearing the word 'FOOL', i knew that i'm a victim of April Fool's prank. I check the SMS again. I scrolled the sms further down (which i hoped no messages will appear and even hopeful that Siti was actually really dead by now), and this appear:

...dari saat ini untuk menjadi angkasawan ke-2 mewakli M'sia ke ISS slps Syeikh Muszaphar... Hehe, APRIL FOOL..

I want to kill myself... i will be the laughing stock this friday in class.

Let the poor say I am rich.

2008-03-31T13:37:00.003+08:00

I got this interesting fact from George's blog.

Remember the song "Give Thanks"? The chorus of this worship song mention this:

"And now let the weak say i am strong
let the poor say i am rich
because of what the Lord has done
for us..."

Well, it had confirmed itself to be a prophetic proclaimation. Poor people (like myself) who can only put 1cent coin into their 'piggy bank' might wanna shout "AMEN, HALELUJAH!" all the way to the the kedai besi or to any wire manufacturer.

Here's what George had to say:

1 cent coin is 1.75g
so, 1kg = 572 pieces = RM 5.72
1kg copper on market worth RM 27.25

Will the poor say "I am Rich"? Yes of course! But I dare to bet that not only the poor will say "I am Rich"...

Pencuri / thieves will also say "Amen, Hallelujah" too, for the wrong reason. Here's a video i found about a man stealing copper wire from a van:

Berjimat

2008-03-31T12:32:00.005+08:00

This is my body soap (PROTEX)...

For only RM1.00, I bought it since 1st of January 2008 and it lasted until now.

This is my Shampoo (Sunsilk)...

Bought it too on the 1st January 2008 for only RM3.50 (Price tag still there) and still got somemore.

Trust me... i smell quite okay.

The Job

2008-03-25T19:44:00.005+08:00

I got a job offer for this two months semester break...

I was just simply applying... I thought cannot get one.

I'm thinking should I or should I not take the job.

I told the employer I'll get back to them by mid-April right after my semester end.

Can I do it?

Am I up to the standard to become a...

Campus Life: Food

2008-03-24T21:55:00.002+08:00

Living in the university’s campus is like camping. You know that you are not going to stay there forever, but you wish to stay there forever because it’s fun, friends all around you, sleeping late, doing things that we not normally do at home, freedom... pretty much like camping.

Maybe I’m speaking this for myself because some people dislike camping and would not be able to relate with what I’m saying here. But that’s okay.

Usually while camping, one needs to save a lot. You cannot eat as much as you want – this will lead to insufficient ration. So, one will need to stock in proper food supplies and plan your meal. In campus, it is also the same thing. Without a control rationing to our daily meals, it may lead to obesity lifestyle, and also financial instability.

Now, I can testify to you that I failed in that area while I was in USM Penang. I did not plan my meals properly. What can I do, I had a room-mate who had an endless supplies of junk food. To make matters even worst, around the perimeter of the university there are five 24-hours Nasi Kandar stall. I think the biggest health threat to me in three years while in USM is eating Subaidah’s Nasi Lemak Ayam 5 days continuously at 3 in the morning.

The sin of gluttony... guilty as hell.

But... it is different now in UKM Bangi. I eat one meal per-day, usually lunch. And if I’m hungry, instant noodle will be use to ‘menahan perut’ (before that I check if it’s enough to last until end of the month). It’s all about planning, now I know that the cheapest instant noodle is Mee Sedap (The ‘sup’ one not the ‘goreng’), it is only RM2.20 for 5packets. Beat the hell out of the rest in term of price.

Side track a bit: My first time eating instant noodle here was funny. After preparing hot water, i poured into my bowl with the instant noodle in it. After waiting for 3minutes, it’s finally ready to be eaten.... and then I realised... I don’t have... Chopsticks or even fork and spoon.

In UKM Bangi, there are still Nasi Kandar stall around, not many but a few, scattered around, far apart from each other. But it’s a drag to travel to the place because it’s inconvenient – huge roundabout, one way street, parking and the ‘Pegawai Keselamatan’. So, it’s better to wait in your room and hope some of the students walk past your room shouting “NASI LEMAK! NASI LEMAK! BURGER! BURGER! SERINGGIT SAJE! SERINGGIT SAJE!” who normally won’t come.

Campus lifestyle is very much like camping... careless and we leave everything to chances.

Kerja Keras, Kerja Lembut, Kalau Malas, Disumpah Maut...

2008-03-20T23:02:00.003+08:00

In Three weeks time my semester will end. This also mean that i will have around 3 months semester break before i go back to UKM for my 3rd semester.

As I get older, holidays during study break are no longer a time for you to relax and plan for a trip to Genting or what so ever. It is a time for you to look for a Job.

Two reasons why i need to get a short term job:

It's very malu / uncool to ask from my parents pocket money now that you are 24years old (When i in need of some cash, i won't ask them, i pray that they will ask me if i got money or not.).
I need job experience. Graduating with a master's paper will be as good as graduating with a degree if i don't have a lot of job experience, especially if one want to jump into the academic / teaching field.

I had my short stint as an English Teacher in a private college before i went off to UKM. That opportunity was somehow by chance i got it because it was a church member of mine who recomended. Now, if i decide to teach in colleges again, no colleges want to hire a teacher to teach for less than 3 months. They would like a teacher to be commited for the whole semester.

Last semester break i worked in an advertising firm as a copywriter. Not bad. They paid me RM500 a month. So, this semester, i am determine to do something else which will strengthen my resume eventually.

So now, the problem is: WHAT ELSE CAN A PERSON WHO GRADUATE FROM A LANGUAGE DEGREE DO?!?!

My Little Part in General Election 2008

2008-03-12T01:13:00.009+08:00

Besides coming back and vote, i did infact involve a little bit through out the process of the election campaign. Attending ceramahs is far too common as a criteria to be considered "actively involve" in the election campaign.

So i decided to go an extra mile in this general election.

Yes, That's me in the red with my dad climbing up the fence of the Army Div 2 Base in Georgetown. We decided to put up a protest banner. After climbing down, reporters told me that the soldiers have the utmost right to gun me and my dad down. It will be a different story for the reporters to cover the next day:

Father & Son Shot dead For Trespassing Army Base.

Anyway, the army base is already empty. Thank God. Read more about it here.

That Indian Uncle block the word 'DONT' in the photo. Haiya....

It was a great experience to do such thing and able to meet the DAPs candidates like Chow Kon Yeow and Ng Wei Aik who came and support what we were doing. And now that they are in control of Penang State Government, i can't help but to feel that me and my dad was giving some of our effort in creating this new state of Penang. Hoping for the best.

I pray that God will give them wisdom to lead this state towards a better future.