Standard Chartered - Kuala Lumpur Marathon 2010

Finally, after a short preparation for this event, me and my friend, managed to finished it! We tasted the 10km of sweat, a bit of tears and foot blisters of my 4th marathon to date.

Its a fine morning.. a rainy, but fine morning. Good thing, the rain finished before we started our race. I just pity all those who join the 42KM run since the rain was on its mids when they started.

We arrived at the venue around 6am from my friend's house. The atmosphere is so intense when we reach there. There are lots of participants, from 21 and 10 Kilometers who are busy stretching and doing their pre-marathon routines. I just watch them and enjoy the moment. In my mind I say, "This is it, I'm not a newbie anymore.. I will surely love this!" Though my stomach and bladder isn't say so. They are nervous, nervous that I felt some butterfly in it and my bladder told me to go and search for a comfort room!

It was 6:52 when Me and my friends decided to queue on the starting area and condition our mind for the run. I was busy listening to David Cook's "The Time Of My Life" (not the "Dirty Dancing" theme, but the song he sang as his Final Song in American Idol) when the announcement was given for the race to start.

There are so many 10Km participants that it took us 2 minutes before we cross the starting line and record my starting time using our D-Tag attached on my left shoelace.

Run...

... Walk!

Run...

... Walk...

... was my technique earlier. I don't want to force my left foot which is still recovering from the sprain I got from the Badminton tournament last time. I am expecting to finish the race at an hour and 20 minutes, 20 minutes shy from my time on the last Marathon in Cyberjaya.

Its still early and here we was, watching the busy road of Kuala Lumpur while running. I'm counting if we are near to the finish line.. it looks like forever for me. I'm not aware of what song I'm listening to, or what song I have listen on my iPod anymore, I'm busy thinking where was my friends? Where was that drinking station after 4Km, isn't it 4km yet? Yep! 4000 meters and I'm already thought those things.. so Imagine what more did I think for the last 6km of the run!

Familiar places... KL Sentral, Indian Town, Police Station and now Jalan Sayed Putra. Finally, I saw the drinking station, and like the others who are thirsty, I queued and get my two cups of 100 plus from the table. I saw 4 portable toilet on the route but ignore to pee..

My run continue...

KL Railway station. I thought we are already near to the finish line because I haven't notice any "Mark Sign". I check my phone just to be surprised, 39 minutes? It's already 39 minutes.. I calculated 3 minutes more and I will reach the finish line.. that was fast.. what happen??? My mind was set that I am already near.. but it was a mistake! I haven't remember that we will cross the back of the KL Station twice as stated on the 10km map.

We turn left going to the Lake Garden, its an inclined area and it adds the burdens on us, runners. Most of us just walk and started to run again after we reached Jalan Cenderawasih and Jalan Parlimen.

It was in the last 2km to 2.5km when I noticed a commotion ahead me. It was, I think, in Jalan Raja Laut before Sogo Mall. Though still far, I saw a man lying on the side of the road, surrounded by some of his friend (I think). Some of them was shouting.. Mani! Mani! Mani! Many or Manie, I don't know what word they calling. Then all of the sudden I felt nervous, I thought that man lying there was my friend Manny who got separated from me earlier in the race. it was about 40 meters when I heard them clearly.. they are calling for Medics! Maybe their friends need someone who have oxygen... in my iPod, Regine Velasquez is singing "Babalik Kang Muli".

I passed near the group to check if its my friend.. Good Heaven, I thought... it's not him! Then my eyes got wet... Yes I cried! I felt sad about what happen on the guy there while listening to the sad music.. thinking, how if its me lying there? Or my friends? What will happen?

I pray that he would be okay.

I continue...

It's my final Kilometer, I saw the tents made by the organizers. I am near the finish line.. and this time, it's for real! My clock says, I been running for an hour and 15minutes, 5 minutes more! There are lots of people cheering for their friends, family and loveones. Other are just watching the event. Gathering pictures of the runners along the way.. and now my final steps! I crossed the Ark with a big happy letters "FINISH".

And everything are a very very sweet experience!

Weekends: Finals, Run, Friends

I haven't heard any news whether our badminton final will be set this coming Saturday. If it will, I do hope they schedule it in the morning.

My weekend would be very busy for sure. Sunday will be the day of our KL Marathon. I wasn't sure yet if I will get my Race kit personally or will ask someone to get it for me. If Saturday final will pushed through, then I have the whole afternoon to visit Titiwangsa where the Race Kit Collection Centers for the marathon is located.

I have no running/jogging practice for a few days now due to the sprain on my left foot which I got from the badminton game last weekend. I hope the sprain healed soon. If not, I will force to just walk and be left out on the running route.

____

Had an hour swimming practice last night with Thess and Allan. This is to test my breathing to check if I still can stand doing one routine for a couple of minutes without resting. A great cardio exercise too, so it will benefit me for my upcoming run.

____

By the way, I met some new great guys from the LBC cup. I learned that they will join the run too but in different distance. Hope to see them along the way. They are pretty cool and quite friendly. Atleast my world will not rotate in Cyberjaya alone...

Long Weekends (Holy Week)

I'm going to have a long holiday starting tomorrow to observed Holy Week. I didn't practice much of me being Catholic actually which I think is not disrespecting the customs I grew with. It just that I'm not a practitioner, I still pray, I go to church, doing what I know (for myself) is right.. but thats it...nothing more.. nothing less.

So, when I learn that long holiday will fall on my off Saturday, me and my friends plan how to make the most out of this rare opportunity. Like last year, we went to Perhentian Island in Terrengganu and spent the days away from work to relax.

This year, we hope and plan to visit Sunway Lagoon in Petaling Jaya. Were planning to go there on the 2nd since one of us still need to work on the 1st of April. Still do hope that this year's Holyweek be a peaceful and happy week for me.

Switch Your Head Gear On!

"On your mark... Set... Go!"

Those words signal us to go and make a new history for the first Energizer Night Marathon in the country held in Cyberjaya, Selangor. My third marathon to date and my second night marathon of the year.

I was so happy that my pre-run training help me alot to reach my goal. Though my friend Shai, who I always ask to jog with me didn't registered, I'm grateful that she supported me to this event. Together with some friends, Nog and Bea, and other runners and the crowd, the event became a success.

Again, Nog run on the same category as mine. We started together but since there are lots of runners and I think we both want to maintain our pace, we split our way. The first 2km of the run is really a struggle to me, my mind is not focused and I was worrying about my leg calves. I'm having a back pain early that day and my mind was not set properly about the event. Keeping my running pace is a problem too. Seeing those more fitted runners run as if its nothing to them felt very intimidating that you want to compete, you want to push your self, you want to sprint!

But the past experiences gave me lessons that pace and distance running has a step by step procedure that you need to keep in mind. You need to save your energy for the last kilometers of the run and best of all to keep the will to go through, keep running and keep motivated.

And so I keep going, checking my cellphone which I used as a stop-watch once I reached every drinking point stationed on every 2.5km mark (which I doubt since I only remember passing 3 drinking station points). I keep going and did not stop running until about 4km to walk and started to run-jog again after a minute of walk to rest. I continue the process for another 3km, walk for every up and running on down slopes.

Then I let my motivation push me to finish the last 3km of run. So what keeps me motivated? Those friends waiting and cheering for us on the finish line, those people who run for a cause (what ever reason might that be), and those people, despite of old age, challenge themselves to participate in the event.

And the sweetest moment of all came, the time I saw the finish mark, that huge ark that welcomes you, greeted you and somewhat whisper to me, saying, "Good Job".

___

My un-official time based on my cellphone is 1:02:03:04.

Malaysian Open - The Finals

2nd part of the weekend's-capade!


Its been a week since the 250 tour in Kuala Lumpur started. As I mentioned on my previous entry about the tournament, there are a few known players joined the first and new part of ATP 250 tour in the City. Sadly, we haven't had the chance to see most of them due to early exits and the fact the we only bought tickets for the final game.

Some of the early ousted players includes, former world no. 4, David Ferrer, Feliciano Lopez, Jose Acasuso and 2 time grand slam champion Lleyton Hewitt. I really rooted for Lleyton to win the tournament if Verdasco or Davydenko wouldn't make it. I thought this will be a great time for him to show his ability adding that the tournament was held in Asia and near to his Country, Australia. But, there, badluck is around the air.

Luckily, Nikolay and Fernando smoothly sailed to the semis whom they faced the other top seeded on the tour, Robin Sorderling and Fernando Gonzales. Nikolay who defeated the charming Frenchman, Gael Monfils who just won the "Open de Moselle" a week ago in a straight set, 6-3, 6-3 faced Soderling who won to Czech, Tomas Berdych, 6-2, 6-2. And Fernando Verdasco who won to Richard Gasquet, 7-5, 6-4 faced Gonzales who defeated the ever focused Mikhail Youzhny of Russia, 6-3, 6-4.


Not Too Easy Win

The top seeded, Nikolay, won a not too easy game to Robin Soderling before reaching the final. The game lasted for morethan two hours. Robin secured the first set with a very convincing score, 6-1. But "Kolya" doesn't feel intimidated and win the last two set, 7-6(1), 6-2.

(Game statistics: Both players produced 9 total aces, 67% of Break points, 62% service points, 38% return points and 50% total points won. - source: Protennislive.com)

Verdasco on the other hand, demolished Gonzales in straight set, 6-4, 7-5. Which makes my finalist prediction into real.


The Final GAme

The feeling of being present to a Pro Tennis Final is unexplainable. For the newbie like me(us), where everything are "first-time", the crowd, the noise, the people arriving late and those cute kids running up and down the stairs can be appreciated easily. No "shush" unlike in a movie house when someone is giggling or murmuring, this is different, and I really love the experience!

Between the two favorites on the tour, I easily fell over and decided to cheer for Davydenko. I'm a huge fan of both players, but between the two, I felt that the Russian is more deserve to win the title (just an opinion). Adding that most of the spectators are cheering for Verdasco, So it's "Me Against The World".

Fernando Boleh!
Malaysia Boleh!

Both players are good on their down the line ground strokes. Hitting the ball back and forth with an average of atleast 120kph. But, compliments should be given to the Russian, who keeps his pace and consistent on his game. Verdasco haven't mastered the consistency of his game yet. I don't know. Its shows on every execution on his serves and rallys. But he is still a good player.

Break points are won by Nikolay on the 7th and 10th game of the match, which help him to secure a first set win against Fernanando, 6-4.

7th game result:

10th game and first set result:

Do-or-Die

A nerve breaking second set started with both players losing on their serves. Exchange of breakpoints on earlier games which keeps me thinking if Verdasco can pull-off to win the set to have a chance to win if ever they made it to the 3rd and deciding set.

Nikolay seems to gain his composure and able to break on 11th game, an important point away from the Spaniards.


With Nikolay serving for the match, I prepared my self to dash down nearer to players stool to secure an autograph. My mind is already set that Nikolay will won the match. But the fences are lock :(

(Game fact: Verdasco produces a total of 4 double fault against 1 from Davydenko in the second and final set.)

The crowd are cheering crazily for Verdasco when both players get ready for the 12th game on second set. This atleast boost Verdasco's confidence. But Davydenko is so focused that he still manage to win the game and become the

First Proton Malaysian Open Champion!

(Picture from: Malaysianopentennis.com)

Pity I wasn't able to get a sign from Nikolay, but atleast I had Fernando's!

Lets Color the World.. Pink!

We're been busy this past two days that I don't have time to finish some of the entry on my blog. Some are still and will remain save as draft until I finish all the details I want to include.

Like I have said, last weekends, is not like our normal off day. Me and some of friends, tried to be a good citizen and join a walk to raise awareness on women's breast cancer last Saturday. I'm actually undecided to join before since I thought that its exclusively for girls/women... I'm wrong, based on the huge crowd of guys on the activity.

The activity went smoothly as planned aside from us being almost late on the activity. The taxi we hired from our office (some of my friends are working) got lost and mistakenly brought us to KLCC instead of KL tower. I don't know, I was seated in front beside the driver and felt that he's bringing us to a different place, but I stayed silent not until I realized that he really sending us to a different place.

Anyway, everything is soo cool! The experience and feeling is one of a kind.

Coffee: Hate not

I'm a coffee lover... though not a coffee genius. But still, I can tell what coffee is good and what is not. What is perfectly brewed and what is sour. What is the best to choose and what are to ignore on the list of coffee brands.

I'm not into expensive coffee like Starbucks, Gloria Jeans, Coffee Beans, or other Coffee shops who stormed every street in lots of places like fastfood chains... Coffee for some, are part of morning life or I should say everyday life. You can even see people drinking their coffee in the middle of the day.

I started loving coffee when I'm still with my former company. I normally do a mid-shift duty which started from 1400h until 2300h. To keep my attention alive and not to fall asleep, I always took minimum of three(3) small cups a night.

This morning, I craved and longed for this drink. I didn't notice that its already a week now since I took my last cup. This also means that its been a week for me taking green tea as substitute. And so, I just found myself on a Starbucks counter ordering for a cappuccino before I go to the church. At noon, after having lunch on our favorite "3M" food place beside the chuch (Masarap, Madumi, Mura / Good, Filthy, Cheap), I head straight to the nearest McDonalds to order large cup of Brewed Coffee which I consumed while on the bus going to Midvalley.

After checking the latest movie schedule at GSC, I went to Coffee Bean and bought a medium cup of Ice Blended Coffee which I only consumed in a blink since the guard at Jusco did not allow me to enter with it.

And when I satisfied my eyes on lots of discounted items inside the mall and decided to go back home, I go to Roti Boy stall and bought a cup of White Coffee which I drink while waiting for a bus going to Central Bus Station.

And now as a result of consuming beyond normal consumption of the drink, I feel hyperactive and palpitating...

... and yes I really love coffee :D

King Of The Road

First...


to....



and join the...


until one by one....







and Finally....



And yes! I'm The King Of The Road :D

When Doing Nothing

There was no great things happen to me this past few days. Except from being healthy and home dummy, there are no interesting activities that came to my way.

I missed to attend the mass last Sunday since I woke up late... and yeah its a bad doing not to be present on this once a week gathering. So it also means that I wasn't able to join our choir practice, wasn't able to register (again) for the marathon and wasn't able to avail the McDonald's Lunch half price promo.

I wasted my day lying on my bed while watching "Card Captor Sakura", a complete DVD collection that I borrowed from a friend, Cindy. Finished it finally. I'm planning to buy "The Prince Of Tennis" and "Slumdunk" soon.

I also satiate myself to different kind of cuisine. From Chinese to Malay and Indonesian to Indian food. I now love "Roti Telur" an Indian bread cooked from rice flour with egg. I actually didn't like the taste of the food before since this was served with "Dal" (I'm not sure about the spelling), a dressing made from green bean or squash or eggplant with curry. I'm not fascinated with curry the reason why I avoided this food before. Not now since I enjoying it very much. Yummy!

Weekend Gate-away

So I been to Genting Highlands last Saturday with two of my friends. One, who visit the country due to training for a couple of days which he extend for pleasure.

As I mention on my previous post, this is my nth time visit at the place. Its an amusement park which you can compare to "Star City" and or "Enchanted Kingdom" (Okay, I haven't been to Enchanted Kingdom even once - not a big deal :D ). The only difference is that Genting Amusement park is situated on the top of a mountain. It's like you are in Baguio City!... but much colder.

Okay, I'm enthusiastic the morning I woke up that day since, finally, for the 3rd times of planning to bring my friend, I can now show him the place. The only motive on my mind is to have him experienced the 25 minutes ride on the longest sky cable in South-east Asia. Yep, 25 minutes ride on a hanging carrier above the stiff mountain. But he didn't look so troubled when we're there... deep sigh.

Anyway, We wasn't able to try the rides since the fog is soo damn heavy. All you can see are the clouds covering everything. We just decided to hang around at the "Indoor Park" and take some pictures. We take some below the replica of "Statue of Liberty" of U.S, the famous "Eiffel Tower" of Paris, France, and Malaysian pride "Twin Tower".

Well, he told me that he enjoy the trip :D hehehe.

Hope we could experience more in the place on his next visit.

Sunday

Its second Sunday of the Month... another schedule for Pinoy Mass.

I woke up early this morning to prepare for the day. I urged my friend to woke up though I felt he is still sleepy (sorry pal). He is also scheduled to depart going back to Philippines at 1200h. I told him last night that I need to attend the Filipino Mass and join the Choir. "It wasn't a problem" he told me and we were agreed to leave my place at 8:00am. Our service is schedule at 09:15 So I still have time to reach the church If I will take the 08:45 fast train from Putrajaya.

We are still tired because of the last day activity. We went to Genting and took a swim in the Clubhouse pool in our area when we got back.

Buses in our place are departing per schedule. Unlike weekdays, which has 30 minutes interval, weekends has one hour. You are lucky if they follow their schedule and catch the bus which will arrived our place after 15 to 20 minutes of their schedule. Unfortunately, we missed it so we just took a cab to the station. We arrived at 08:40 and bought tickets, one for me, going to City Central, and another for him, going to International Airport. Our schedule is the same and we separate after our trains arrived.

I reached the City at 09:05 and head for another train station going to the church. Luckly, I arrived on time. My friends are still setting up the place.

The whole mass goes well, we sang our heart out at the choir stand.. two of the songs are well sung.. one for the offertory, "Take and Received", and the other for the communion, "Panunumpa". The rest are... (you know what it means :D )

I love both songs, and was so grateful that the other didn't force to sang it. They used to shout every songs on our previous masses together with the other who mis-sang the songs due to unfamiliarity... they are the ones who didn't show on every practice.. sigh

I will tell ate Rizza soon if she can restrict the people who didn't practice to join us in the choir stand. It's a waste of our efforts to make the songs pleasant to listen because of them.

After the mass, we gathered up to the Old Parish Hall to celebrate 'Kuya" Jess son's Birthday. He is celebrating his first birthday here.. yipee. The foods are awesome. I stuffed my self with different "lutong bahay" foods that I missed.. yay

After resting for a few minutes, I go straight to Midvalley Mall to try my luck if I can get a movie ticket to watch "Transformers". Luckily, with my other two friends, we got tickets!

Kicking At St. John

I joined the taekwondo training again at St. Johns school at Bukit Nanas yesterday. Actually I was fifteen or twenty minutes late from the training because I forgot to watch the time while on choir practice. Anyway, I'm still happy that I can still manage to follow my listed schedule for the day.

The team are in the midst of stretching when I arrived. I haven't seen Melvin, who came later after my five minutes in the formation(gladly there are people who came later than me... hehehe).

I forgot the name of the senior leader who ask us to line up to practice some tier steps. I'm still wearing my white belt since Ms. Maggie didn't show up on last Tuesday training. SL(Senior Leader) told us first to practice our basic kicking and punching. Start with the single to double and end to triple punches, lower to counter blocking and front to side kicking.

It is one heck of a training and I really really really enjoyed it. My whole body is sweating... and it really feels great.

Ang Puso Ko'y... Sa Hapag...

So we had another practice... an informal choir practice yesterday in the old parish hall at St. John Cathedral for the next Filipino/Pinoy Mass. Its a sudden decision to have an early practice which started at 930am since some of the members have a basketball and volleyball game scheduled at lunchtime which will hit the original practice schedule at 1pm.

I wasn't able to join them on last week practice due to lack of time. I went to Midvalley mall to bought some personal stuffs. I was just surprised that they still don't have the list of songs for the next service. Ate Rizza is torn between the list of old and new songs and can't decide which one to put on the list. We then decide to use some songs we practice a month ago but again got a little problem choosing the best Entrance song for the Mass.

I suggested to use "Ang Puso Ko'y Nagpupuri" since it is best suited as an entrance song. Most of the members are familiar with the piece too so choosing it will not be a huge problem. I wish we could sing the "Sa Hapag ng Panginoon" song too, but practicing a new song will postpone our "Mass run-through" practice.

Anyway here is a clip from Hangad which I downloaded from Youtube. "Ang Puso Ko'y Nagpupuri" is one of the tracks on their Album "Magnificat". The song was well sung and well performed by the group.. hope we could do the same too...

Enjoy!

(got some problem on adding the video.. will update soon)

Activity Updates

My body is aching today maybe because of 2 consecutive games that we had this weekends. Also add the late sleep last night since I stay awake to know what happen to one of my friends who were sent to the hospital due to allergies complications.

Anyway, I almost lost my temper last Saturday while we are playing. There were some rude people who came in and tried to thrown us out of the club house's badminton court. It's not really cool to have a conversation with dumb people like them who boast a lot. It turns out that there is a conflict on the schedule list from the clubhouse management which is not our fault.

If they just talk and ask nicely, we might let them use our court. But since they are trying to intimidate us, but failed, we insist and raised our rights. One of them is claiming that he call the clubhouse office to booked for two courts from 8 to 10 pm, which overlap our schedule which started at 7 to 9 pm. During our conversations, he keeps on insisting that we should leave because first, he reconfirmed the booking earlier prior their game. Second, he is bragging about him being one of the flat owners on the community as if a tenant like us doesn’t have any rights to use any of the community amenities. He even dares us to show a written confirmation schedule from the court guard just to prove our claim. Unfortunately the guard on duty can't show any list which confirms both of our schedules. Not satisfied and talking to their own language which we can’t understand, he tried to scare the poor guard just to impress his friends.

End up, we still play until our schedule finished and irritate them by showing that we are really having some fun playing...

The Journey

Long travel is quite tiring, specially on road trips. Thats why we decided to take a flight when we took an off to relax.

With my three friends, we decided to spend our Holy Week to an island not yet spoiled by tourist... Perhentian. Unlike Langkawi, where a direct flight will take you to the island through Air Asia, Perhentian has a bit tricky ways to reach. The island can be reached either from Kota Bahru (46Km) or Kuala Terengganu (109 Km). As for us first timer, who didn't research enough, we took the latter way.. traveling a long way from Kuala Terengganu...

Anyway, our flight to K.T was 20 minutes delayed. Originally scheduled at 2005h, the plane departed at 2025h, reaching Sultan Mahmud Airport quite late. As a normal tourist act (as I know it is), we took some pictures of their Domestic Airport which is much better than LCCT which hold both, Domestic and International flight from different cheap carriers. Much better in my Country's "Diosdado Macapagal Airport" in Clark too!..in my opinion.

We look around to ask a simplest way to reach Kuala Besut except from taxi where we will spend the night before we continue our journey to Perhentian Island early the next morning. Upon knowing that the last bus from KT going to the place might already left, we decided to spend the night to the nearest hotel nearer to the bus terminal.

We checked-in at Hotel Indah around 2030h after a 15 to 20 minutes taxi ride from the airport. Cheapest as you can get (as per the helpful airport taxi counter staff), we got our room for 80 bucks, with two king size beds, air-con, TV with local channels and attached bathroom with water heater. My only problem is their lack of bathroom rags, other than that, everything seems to be fine.

We then hang around and checked for the earliest bus departure schedule to Kuala Besut after taking a quick shower. We learned that the first bus to KB is sched to depart at 0900h, with roughly 3 hours travel time... a total waste of time if we will reached the place at noontime. We then decided to try our luck to grab a cheaper taxi the next morning. We went to the nearest 711 store to buy some water and coffee before we head back to our hotel. Some chitchat about the plan for the following day and bed set up before we decided to sleep.

The next morning, Maundy Thursday, I woke up early and proceed to the terminal again to check if the the stalls are open to confirm the schedule we got the other night. Everything is still the same as we left the place. All the stalls are close, except from some taxis lined up at the road. Without luck I went back to the Hotel and persuade the group to get up, take a bath and leave early.

We check-out around 0715h full of enthusiasm about our next road trip. We rent a taxi van which we got for Rm80, a cheap price for an hour and half journey to KB. The journey went good.. I really love the view, specially the mangroves that I saw on the road time by time. We reached our destination earlier than expected. Our driver sent us to the traveler's agent office (MD Tours) where we bought our jetty ticket scheduled to leave at 1000h. Having more time, we spend the rest of the hour eating at the nearest Chinese restaurant at the place. I really enjoyed their "Nasi Goreng Ayam". And yeah, I didn't forget to inform the owner/cook that my taste buds are well satisfied...

The Jetty station is not far from where we bought our ticket. Together with few Westerners, we head to the boat station. The day is a bit cloudy and windy which add to the already bigger sea waves. Most of the passengers are shouting when our boat started to take off... the highest boat jump we experience is about 1 to 1.5 meters. We reached the first drop off after 30 to 35 minutes.. our destination.. the island of Perhential Kecil or what they call "The Small Island".

The boat operator informed us that we need to walk for about 10minutes to reach the long beach where we decided to stay. The boat is not going to the place since the waves are much bigger there. Wet and almost exhausted due to the long journey, we track the way through the jungle. Then finally, after a great patience.. we reached the place. We tried to look for a Chalet to stay on for the rest of our days there. Unfortunately finding a place to stay is difficult. We even experience how some of the receptionist discriminate us and choose the people who they want to entertained.

After more than an hour of searching, we finally got at room at "Mohsin Chalet", one of the cheapest place to stay at the long island. And there, the great long beach experience on the beach started.

It went on...

Better..

As We planned..

Almost...

Happy Weekends!

I will try to visit some nearest tourist spots here in my adopted country. I think this is the right time for me to explore and unwind again. A whole day away from my usual path and places will do I think. Plan to visit their Historic Site going to Singapore.. hayzzz I feel so stressed since Monday.

I will spent my "Holy Week" holiday at the beach with my friend too.. Can't wait for that time anymore.. I'm so excited.

Hope it will not rain later.. I want to swim alone to distress. It's been two weeks since my last swimming...

hayyyyzzzz

Tiring Weekends

Off work... after 5pm, Saturday....

..... Tired of office work (not surfing the net... just playing online games.. hahaha) I head home and lie down on my bed.. I slept and was disturbed by my thought (my dream) that some people are waiting for me... I forgot, We have a badminton game!

.... excited on the upcoming "Earth Hour" activity. I looked outside the windows to check if it is already happening...

5 minutes more... I wait...

830pm!... nothing happens..

9pm... its still the same. Lights are all lit up.. no one will participate...

930pm... it's over.. I'm broke!... arg!

_____

After the game, I invited my friends for karaoke.. yeah!

10pm not having a shower... they decided to watch instead.. "Serendipity" is the title..

... okay I'm craving to sing... but the movie is good.. I'm hooked!

... atlas! the movie is finished... we still have time.. wait, its already 1130. We aren't night owls.. but we can pretend to be :D (evil smile)

Same time... Magic sing's mic are all set up... we sing our heart, stomach and intestines out.. yeah..

1 am... geez.. the batteries are all empty.. no spare.. :( we headed home... took a quick shower.. then took off to sleep.

____

Next morning 6am.. get up early to catch up 8am mass service...

.. lost on track, the time passed quickly.. I'm late to catch the early bus.. took the taxi to catch the 735 train to KL. Arrived a bit late.. I missed the first reading :(

.. 0915...waited for the choir practice to start... wait until 1030h.. the musician didn't show up.. wahhhh...

-----FAST FORWARD -----

230pm Midvalley, Cinema 16.... We've watch "Watchmen". I felt bored.. the story is sooo slow.... story is too predictable... :(

515pm we bought Ice blended coffee at Coffee Bean. I consumed 1 large cup(that is equivalent of my 3 days coffee intake)... My senses are fully alert..

... decided to take the train... 545... the next schedule will be 549..

.... 5 minutes after... the trained was delayed... next will arrived at 618... train on other track already arrived...

....1619 no train.. 2 minutes after... train on the other track arrived....

....1635... no train still... after a minute or 3.. train on the other track arrived..

- crowds are getting bigger and bigger.... everyone are hoping to ride on the train that will arrived... if it will.

....1710... the rain started.. still no train....

....1720... finally the train arrived... GOSH.. no space anymore.. pushing... pushing.. pushing... Just a little bit move when..... WOOOOTTTTT... the guard stop us.. no space for a medium sized people like us anymore.. we have to wait again.

... after 10 minutes.. another train stop.. We finally got on board.. (sigh)

... bought KLIA train ticket to PutraJaya, depart time is 801.. still have 20 minutes... then we hang around..

... I saw an imitated wallet... bought it for 20bucks.. yipee! I have new wallet now!

... we lost the time.. we missed the train.. we have to wait again.. saw my friend looking for new sandals to buy...

...0831.. we finally boarded... arrived at 855 at PutraJaya... no bus.. NOT AGAIN!

...920.. the bus arrived..

930 we finally get in...

950pm.. arrived at home.. didnt dare to change... get on bed.. snooooooree

Up, up and away

How good is your weekends? Is it the same old TGIW (Thank God Its Weekend)? or a lots of plan was successfully pushed through and you are happy about it? A boring day of doing your laundry? Studying? Or wasting your time day dreaming?

Mine is neither of the above.. I haven't had a Thank-God-Its-Weekend dilemma nor wasting my time doing nothing. I still done my laundry while watching movie which made my job more exciting... But I still had most exciting activity than that... by flying! Yep, Flying! Not me physically but my imagination with colorful giant balloons above the air.

For the first time, which add my excitement, I witnessed how they prepare this giant things to fly above the sky.. The colorful giant balloon are one of my favorite things to watch.. and one of my dream to ride on. Its amaze me much on the different sizes and shapes that they have. From cone to rectangular, to clown to peacock shape... I let my kid self scape on me.. and overwhelm my self by watching and dreaming my self riding on it.

I am really thankful that I just staying near the place where they held the 1st Hot Air Balloon Festival... Putrajaya.

The event, held in conjunction with the Federal Territories Day celebrations, featured Hot-air Balloonists from different countries including France, Germany, Japan, Belgium, New Zealand, the Philippines, United States and Thailand.