11 years away vs 11 hours in Sandakan

I'm now officially about 11 hrs in sandakan..the town where i grew up..i did not have many expectation but upon arrival i notice the used to be famous 'mamak' restaurant has gone array..my favourite was opposite the legendary Wisma Sandakan..it is now Restaurant Zakaria?? Since when si Zakaria ada restaurant di Sandakan..although the name and concept has very much changed i was tempted to try their foods..Habeeb was my favourite due to its steam chicken rice and fried mee..it was an utter dissapointment when i tasted Zakaria's fried mee..where did they learn to cook fried mee with oyster sauce..sorry but i did not even finish the food..too much oyster!

Later the day..I went to an actual habeeb and tried their fried mee..I guess they've changed the recipi as well after all it has been 11 years..Habeeb is no longer a favourite..sorry pakcik habeeb...

1 hour before dinnerIi drove to SRK Sg Manila and SM Bestari Elopura formerly known SMK Elopura but i wasn't able to go inside due to school holiday and their gates were locked.Ii could see from a far both have completely transformed..there are few new roads being built but i could only use the old roads I used and familiar with..

Tomorrow is going to be a tiring day..going to drive around to my known places and hopefullyIi wouldn't be dissapointed..hehe..

Farewell 2010 and Season Greetings

8 days to Christmas and counting...most people are excited about Christmas but for me it’s just a normal day in a Calendar every year...the only different is I’d usually be in my home town Sabah..I may celebrate the Christmas with families or friends but this year...I’m sorry I’ll be celebrating Christmas with long-lost friends back in Sandakan...10 years of my life was spent in Sandakan and I had plenty of crazy friends back then...now after 11 years I’m going back to memory lane..honestly, I’m a bit excited about the idea of visiting Sandakan than others this year...the idea of not knowing what to expect is part of the excitement I guess...I’ve heard lot of stories about how Sandakan has developed...new interesting places..I could not resist the chances to meet up with long-lost friends as well as visiting my previous primary & secondary schools...I’m game for this!!

Looking back 2010....it is one hell of a ride...ups and downs are just part of the life cycle so don’t complain...I’d be lying if I do not have a moment I was worried about my life, career and future but I went through with open heart and huge hope I’d be just fine...I’ve got few highlights of 2010 but let’s just put them into one category- financial stability. I’m not rich as if I receive RM5000 monthly salary but I love to have an idea that life isn’t just about having lots of money or new stuffs...for me being ‘rich’ is being able to support yourself with your own expense without feeling guilty or regret of spending (spend wisely la ba..)

I was pretty cautious about work in the beginning of 2010...most probably it was just because previous year experience but I did quite well...gone through every obstacles as if I do not know what the word ‘give-up’ means to me...to challenge myself to be better than previous year is always the motivation to me although I do not have a ‘to-do/achieve list’ like most people...sometimes I felt I’m just a care-free kind of person and selfish but I love the idea of ‘mind your own business’...I had a conversation over this with a friend and I’m quite sure the friend may not able to digest this huge part of me into practice...I do not care things when they don’t matter and relate to me at all (as long as I’m fine and not disturbed) and as a reflector I will not do things that may affect people around me...fair game? helping others is different if you already knew it's not too much of help but taking care of others due to their own inability to reason life is just a waste of my time...

I do not hope for any big upheaval in 2011 but as always I will do the best of me to get the best for me...I’m pretty excited about my new mobile phone as it is so expensive for me yet due to its features, I believe it is timely to change and it's affordable for me...need to buy instant noodles supply of 3 months starting next Jan 2011..huhu..I’m flying back to Sabah on 18 Dec 2010, at 19:40 and expected to arrive at about 22:30 on the same day....will be in KK for few days before going back to Ranau then off to Sandakan just a day before Christmas also to attend friend’s wedding and etc..I’ll be back to KK for sure on 27 Dec 2010 to attend friend’s wedding and go to Tambunan as final place to visit...will decide in Tambunan either going back to Ranau or direct to KK before flying back to Penang on 2 Jan 2011...

I’d like to wish everyone a very wonderful Christmas celebration and a blast New Year 2011 party!!

May God Bless You

Penang Bridge International Marathon 2010 - RESULT

Ye Ye...that's how proud I am to myself at the recent 21Km PBIM.

I was almost done at 9 Km check point on the Penang Bridge…but I guess it must be God's way of work...

The first 5Km was fine…I just ran the way I used to and when it was about to enter 7Km..I started to feel muscle pain building up on my calves…at this point me, Jew and Brandon were in the same pace and close to each others...I think the cold sea breeze brought life to my legs...haha…the pain slowly disappearing and I could run as comfortable as I can to my liking until I reached the 9Km Check Point on the bridge…Just after I stepped on the BIB detector and few steps forward…heavy rain begun to wet the face of Penang Island…It was heavy as water from your bathroom shower!!! Not even 1km afterwards, my muscle pain came back and it was definitely made me worried...I tried to control the pain but it became every runner worst nightmare …both my legs were cramped… I tried to fight it by walking on it and stretched my legs down a little bit but it wasn’t working…when an ambulance came in towards me (there was an aged man carried by 2 guys needed an attention) I slowly walked towards the ambulance and asked for help…I asked if they’ve got pain reliever…no they did not have on the van..I then asked if I could stop the run and hop in…no I could not...If I were to quit..I’ll have to wait at the road side (under the heavy rain) for the shuttle bus which may take few more hours after the run has actually ended…I then decided to stop, stretched my legs and slowly walking for almost 2Km when I finally managed to get the cramp controllable!! Although the rain was still pouring heavily…nasib la..

I continued running slowly and steadily until I reached the next 16Km Check Point…from time to time..I stopped running and just walking but for short distance…by this time, the walking was just making the pain to its worst so I shall not walk too much… I thought I already late for the ETA because both 4 hrs and 5 hrs pacers were running in front of me…I think it was about 4Km to go...I finally got pain reliever and this time I got my whole legs sprayed…thighs to ankle and it did the work pretty good…I could run faster and better although the pain wasn’t totally disappeared…I managed to chase the 5 hrs then 4 hrs pacers and finally to the Finish line with unofficial time of 3 hrs 10 minutes…I slowly walked towards the tents were medals were distributed and collected my Finisher Medal..It was damn tiring!! I could only blame the rain as it made the run more challenging and worse…

I now got the official time of 3 hrs 10 minutes!! Well Done Wel!!! I was 10 and about 27 minutes behind Jew and Brandon…I reckon I lost about 20-30 mins whilst nurturing my cramp on the bridge but I’m happy for being able to finish the run within the ETA…it’s my first time running 21 Km and first time joining PBIM…look forward to PBIM 2011!!

Penang Bridge International Marathon 2010

Event: Penang Bridge International Marathon
Distance: 21 Km (half marathon, ETA 3 hrs 30 mins)
Date and Time: 21 Nov 2010, 03:00am


Ba ba wel…siapa suruh kau pandai-pandai daftar 21Km Penang Bridge International Marathon!?

I’m really not ready for it..either stamina or fitness but I know I will not let myself fail this task easily..

The strategy is..run 5Km within 30 mins then walk another 5Km (no time constraint)..repeat the same thing for the next 11Km to the finish line!!!

Visit www.penangmarathon.gov.my to watch the live telecast....

30's Gateway

I’m now a year older…thank God!

I organised a decent party last Saturday and it was really a happy moment..coincidently, Jew’s cousin came down from KL so it was timely to hang out and catch up with him although it was the 2nd time I met him..few weeks before I bought a BBQ+Steamboat set which uses electricity and it serves us quite right these few occasions we’ve had…very easy to prep as long as you’ve got necessary ingredients ready in your refrigerator…to cut the story short..we had lamb, beef, chicken, asparagus and of course enough supply for beer...I'm so happy I've finally got a full Dragon Ball Collection (Original DVD) and it didn't take long for me to watch it until the end..Tangkiu to those who have contributed!!

sorry picture taken isn't that clear

The day after … me, Jew and his cousin went (drive) to Betong at the Thai-Malaysia border…it took us approx 3 hours to reach the destination due lost of direction…we departed from home at about 11am and arrived at Betong after gone through the Custom-Immigration check up almost 3pm…nothing much to say about Betong as it hasn’t got any tourist attraction for visiting…main objective to be in Betong mostly for socialising..FYI, most people could speak BM as they’re about 10KM away off Thai-Malaysia border…night life is quite alright (Strip Club and Karaoke Pub) but price wise isn’t that impressive…we had a good time there though…went back to Penang the day after and I straight away went to work as we arrived just before 1pm..it was tiring yet a great adventurous journey…

That’s it…latest update sudah tu..hehehe..right! once again, many thanks for all the wishes..cheers chaps!