KL2012 – genting highlands

i think going to KL isn’t complete until a visit to genting highlands. my past visit to genting highlands have always been via direct coach services from singapore. since i took a flight to KL, i will have to arrange my transport from KL to genting myself. i took the genting package from kl sentral which costs affordly @ rm10.30 one way. the trip consists of bus trip from kl sentral to skyway lower station (about 60mins) and skybus up to genting highland hotel (about 20 ~ 30mins depending on the queue)

http://www.gogenting.com.my/en/express/klsentral.htm

Walk 247/365 Comex, Kopi + Travel ideas

SHOPPING
COMEX 2010 here (2 ~ 5 Srp 2010), usually I don’t like to squeeze with the crowds, but since I’m around the area, so might as well hope in. And I still hate squeezing with the crowds!

Bought only a wireless mouse & Aviva anti-virus. Been using Aviva free version for sometime already, quite happy with the performance and *touchwood* so far not gotten anything bad yet. So I go ahead with their Premium @ $25, 12 mths + additional 6 mths free.

TRAVEL
My mind plays ping pong again. I’m thinking of Kyushu for a start, then now it’s Hokkaido. Suddenly it’s Bali -_-;;;

Anyway, chose Hokkaido becoz I haven’t driven around that beautiful island before + it’s autumn during the dates that I plan to go.

But but but I worry I do not have much time to plan the trip (Planning for Oct), so suddenly thinking of easier trip to Bali instead. Beside, I’ve never step onto Bali soil as yet.

Old Beng blog about his recent bali & stay at Villa. But lucky guy got it free, it costs S$250/nite and me certainly won’t want to fork out that much! The rice padi fields looks nice

I also chanced upon this Taiwanese Lady blog, she stayed  in Tune (Budget hotel by Airasia), rented a scooter to go round Bali *coolz* Now that’s something I wanted to do as well. It wasn’t a long stay for her and it seems,  just as what she wrote, if you don’t shop – don’t dine highend – don’t swim – don’t spa, I guess there’s nothing much for me in Bali. hmmm ….

My friend should be back this week from Bali, will pester for trip review

Also more buts again, recently Sumatra Volcano triggered, worried might shift further towards Bali *touchwood* LOLz. As of today, A 7.0-magnitude earthquake has also struck off New Zealand’s South Island, looks quite bad.

At this rate, I think I better stay put in Singapore! muahahahaha …
nahhhh … anyway I go somewhere somehow, really need that break for the longest time!

LIFE
Two first this week!
- First Option Trade
- First blogging via Email from Mobile. After I got that HTC HD2, somehow I beginning to like the mobility it offers. Of coz, if I’ve gotten the iphone, I could have done more since there are more supporting apps *argh*.  Oh well, I still prefers HD2 bigger screen, something like iPad would be my next gadget, preferably running on Androids

PHOTO
Anyway just found the best $1 kopi-O @ Marina Square, not becoz of the kopi-O but becoz of the view it offers   Can see the 3 apostles with banana split on top!

Walk 240/365 Slow week

LIFE
Slow work week, and that’s good!

Had the OPENNET installed, of coz it’s pretty useless right now.
We have all indian installation team to install the OPENNET!

Watch some pretty awesome (see below) time lapse video done by mockmoon.
I had always love to lie down in the open & enjoy the starry nights! (bonus if milky way & shooting stars comes along)

In so far, there are only missed opportunities
#01 Australia, Ayers Rock ~ got to camp out in the open. Really amazing stars but was too tired during the day treking.
#02 Australia, Perth ~ While driving back from Albany during the evening. Again, wonderful starry skies. But my family wasn’t a bit interested at all *shrugged*

VIDEO
Checkout these time lapse done by mockmoon, awesome!
Yes, I want to see Milky way too (gonna drop that into my bucket list)

I see quite a number of them are made by mockmoon around Japan Alps (Nagano). But that go requires some trekking up the mountains and living in the mountain huts. Not too ready for that, at least until my knee gets better.

For now, I may thinking of Aso, Kyushu instead, there is an beautiful resort that’s built at the plateau of Mt Aso. Autumn period will be good, as long as Aso not “puking” out anything during the period. *fingercross*

Continuous Shatter

http://mockmoon.sblo.jp/

Walk 178/365 Mountain Tortoise Me!

HEALTH
Strange that my cough just wouldn’t stop though it has tone down considerably

PHOTO ~ Mountain Tortoise Me!

Didn’t know Tilt plates are install in some (probably old) building to measure the slope. I guess they are afraid to be the next leaning tower of Pisa?

Didn’t know we can fly kite at Marina Barrage! I thought it was just another darn dam, surprising the area is bustling with outdoor activities like rock climbing, canoeing & of cause go fly kite!

It been many many moons ago since I took the bus (in fact SMRT too). And just the other day I had to take the bus to collect my serviced scooter, and surprised that the double decker bus have a display that counts the seats available up stair!

Walk 156/365

HEALTH
Cough turn into flu! Yikes! More rest needed, fortunately the weight remains around 84.5kg

FOOD
Daily Scoop Avocado Ice cream ~ yummy & sweetness is just right!
Taiwan Kyoho Grape ~ Not as good as those from Japan but at least they are a whole lot cheaper! I reckon it’s 10x cheaper? But having tasted the Japan Kyoho grapes before, it’s still miles apart in term of sweetness & fragrance.
Yakiniku Book ~ Interesting little booklet on various meat (beef, pork, duck, chicken, horse) cuts in Yakiniku which I got from the Book Fair

LIFE
Been thinking what’s a perfect day for me lately. For now, I like what I’m doing on Sunday
1. Wakeup late at 10 ~ 11am
2. Late Brunch of favourite treats ~ have hainanese curry rice on Sunday
3. Leisure peaceful stroll & taking photo

4. Afternoon cuppa while leisurely surfing & dreaming

PHOTO
The Beautiful ~ Rangoon Creepers (Quisqualis indica)

The Bad ~ I believe Singapore is also called Aircon Nation?

The Ugly ~ Me thinks this is to prevent Pigeons from sitting & doing their business while on the ledge

Walk 120/365 STILL 85!

HEALTH
9th Week: Weight hovering around 84.5 ~ 85kg, i counted as 85kg for now. This is just too slow
But no, I won’t resort to dieting ~ meals as per norm (i.e 6 small meals daily)

Lower back pain have responding well to the tennis ball massage as well as some stretching on Quadratus Lumborum (QL), seems like the QL been hurt due to my poor posture as well

FOOD
This weekend “indulgence” will be just Williamette Raspberry Sorbet & Tangerines.

I love the green Thai honey tangerines, they are sweet & not so acidic. I found another at GIANT which is marketed as Mineola Tangerine from US. Interestingly, this is really a cross between tangerines & grapefruits (also called Tangelo). This tangerine is characterized by a weird stem-end beck (see RED arrow) ~ very sweet & delicious.

I also remember seeing similar kind of tangerine in Japan called Depokon but they are much larger then the Tangelo here. They are also very sweet & delicious as well!

PHOTO
Came across this gorgeous blooming of Red Flame tree (Royal Poinciana). There is another at Fort Canning Park which you can get real close to the pretty red flowers.

Walk113/365 Under 85

HEALTH
8th Week. Finally my weight went under 85, ok it was hovering just around 84.7 ~85kg for last 2 days. Besides the slight weight loss, my body began to feel more supple & flexible. That said, it’s still a long way towards my objective. Anyway, was hoping from next week onwards, changes be significant & mark the start of transformation *pray pray*

TRIGGER POINT
I have lower back pain for quite sometime, many thanks to my bad sitting posture in the past. All along, I always thought lower back pain must be due to weak lower back muscle until I came across an article on trigger point. Tried massaging the suggested Gluteus medius trigger point with tennis ball.

It felt so sore at the point, never knew the soreness existed at all! And amazing it give quick relief to my lower back pain. According to the Trigger point theory, this soreness is due muscle fibre which are over active and unable to relax & release from their contracted state. This cause tightening of muscle which will alter our anatomy, that cause all our bodily pains to happen overtime.

Anyway, I’m truly enjoying the tennis ball massage. YES, massaging away the soreness feels soooo good!
Another article from laurensfitness.com is pretty cool too.

Seems like tennis ball gonna be put of my life from now on LOLz

PHOTO
Weather this week was a mixed blend of ying & yang. It’s either HOT morning & WET afternoon (vice versa).
Humid creeping up as well, and hence my aircon are operating daily in the nights. $$$

Missed the sunset at Kent ridge, the misty (due to rain) orangy background looks not too bad.

Walk106/365 Scented Walk

PHOTO
Weather been erratic the whole week. We could have a super hot morning, but heavy rain arrives in the afternoon (vice versa).
It rain that morning, and that probably shook out hundreds (if not thousands) small scented flowers from a flowering tree (which I have no ID)  near Kent Ridge Park.

The cool air & flower scents perfumed my delightful morning walk ~ what a wonderful way to start my day!

HEALTH
7th Week: Weight hovering around 85.2 ~ 85kg. I shall round down to 85kg to make myself happy hohohohoho
Another good news, belt one notch down & needless to say, stomach flatter though still not up to expectation yet.

I read that usually transformation will happen around week8 ~ 9.  And once it starts, it will accelerate the fat burning & muscle toning progress. So 2 more weeks to go *Full of  hopes*

Also, I have been reading about Hip Hinge and how it helps to prevent stress on your lower backs. Do checkout these articles, these seemingly simple exercise actually helps to correct & improve your posture

http://www.lasportsandspine.com/pdfs/HipHinge-03.pdf

http://www.acefitness.org/exerciselibrary/33/hip-hinge

Walk 36/365 – Molten Peanut Butter

FOOD
One of my favorite snacks, unfortunately, it’s pretty unhealthy with all sugar content. But I guess once a while indulgence isn’t too detriment  to health.

Just spread peanut butter on bread or crackers. Microwave 15secs .. tata yummy creamy molten peanut  butter for your teatime pleasures.

PHOTO
Ancient methods, Modern uses … In the past, scare Crows were used in farms to scare away birds from picking those seeding. In modern days, they were used to scare away birds from picking scraping of food from kopitiam tables!

Walk 23/365 Photo Hogs City

PHOTO
Singaporean not only loves food, they also loves photography too!

SHOPPING#01 SOFA
Finally bought a sofa with under-seat storage. Additional storage means more places to junk junkies hahahaha … Anyway, the sales girl was trying to coax me to change to a better material for the sofa for $200 more. The material indeed is soft feel (not leather, if leather I surely jump on that offer), but since I’m 40% work, 30% sleep, 20% play ~ that leave me only 10% which probably will be use to settle other personal matters. So in the end, no time to enjoy the softer feel material! I give a pass this time

SHOPPING#02 IPHONE
Went to telecoms shop with intend to get the iphone. I was so happy when I see a short queue, but another peek inside saw many still waiting to be serviced! I ask a nice chap what his number ~2038, display 1050 and he has been waiting for almost an hour! *phew* Guess I better come even earlier next time ….. *sighz*

Oh, I saw the new HTC HD2 and love the huge screen … hmmm should I change my mind again?

CONKED
The old TV of vintage 10years suddenly conked! Guess I need to add another item to my shoplist!