This is what we got our dear niece
This was from a very nice UK company which sells really cute and educational stuff. Check out their range of stuff.
Check elc out
Check out photos of her ... here
Monday, April 09, 2007
Happy 1st Month Joelle
My niece celebrated her 1st month amongst many friends and family yesterday, 8 April 07.
This is what we got our dear niece
This was from a very nice UK company which sells really cute and educational stuff. Check out their range of stuff.
Check elc out
Check out photos of her ... here
This is what we got our dear niece
This was from a very nice UK company which sells really cute and educational stuff. Check out their range of stuff.
Check elc out
Check out photos of her ... here
Friday, April 06, 2007
5th Landy Improvement
The latest in the line of Miss Daisy improvements...
A spanking new Safety Devices Land Rover Roofrack installed on 4 April 2007.
This was a day after I got a call from Nam Seng informing me that the roof rack had reached our shores. Therefore, after mulling about it for a day or tow, decided to take a look at it and finally make a decision. One of the most difficult things to resolve was the fact that after installation, Miss Daisy may not fit into our own multi-storey carpark.
The rack was big, black and a beauty...even in the box. It was sleek and it was the original Land Rover G4 roof rack. The lower, sleeker profile boasts minimal addition to the overall height of the vehicle. RIchard assured us that after adding the roof rack, 2.15m carparks should pose no difficulty.
Installation was a breeze, the rack fitting easily onto the rain gutter and clamping it down to the vehicle with rubber clamps. All in all, it too about 30-45 minutes to fit and secure the rack to Miss Daisy. The weight was surprisingly light and it could not have weighed more than 20kg.
The only drawback was the price which was quite hefty at $2400. Considering that the rack would have cost about 600 pounds and taking into account conversion rates and shipping charges, I felt it was a fair price albeit a little steep.
Land Rover Defender Expedition Roof Rack
LR 004101
SGD 2400
PS: I still park in my own carpark
See how Miss Daisy looks with the rack.
This was how she looked without the rack.......
See My Flickr for more photos.
A spanking new Safety Devices Land Rover Roofrack installed on 4 April 2007.
This was a day after I got a call from Nam Seng informing me that the roof rack had reached our shores. Therefore, after mulling about it for a day or tow, decided to take a look at it and finally make a decision. One of the most difficult things to resolve was the fact that after installation, Miss Daisy may not fit into our own multi-storey carpark.
The rack was big, black and a beauty...even in the box. It was sleek and it was the original Land Rover G4 roof rack. The lower, sleeker profile boasts minimal addition to the overall height of the vehicle. RIchard assured us that after adding the roof rack, 2.15m carparks should pose no difficulty.
Installation was a breeze, the rack fitting easily onto the rain gutter and clamping it down to the vehicle with rubber clamps. All in all, it too about 30-45 minutes to fit and secure the rack to Miss Daisy. The weight was surprisingly light and it could not have weighed more than 20kg.
The only drawback was the price which was quite hefty at $2400. Considering that the rack would have cost about 600 pounds and taking into account conversion rates and shipping charges, I felt it was a fair price albeit a little steep.
Land Rover Defender Expedition Roof Rack
LR 004101
SGD 2400
PS: I still park in my own carpark
See how Miss Daisy looks with the rack.
This was how she looked without the rack.......
See My Flickr for more photos.
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
Dive Pulau Aur 30 Mar - 1 Apr 2007
Just came back from a weekend of underwater adventure. It is almost an annual pilgrimage to the underwater realm since my last dive was last in April 06 in Thailand. I was fortunate to be invited for this trip by David and gang, otherwise I would not have found the time or energy to plan a trip for myself.
It has been an interval of 8 years since last dived at the Aur region. The last time was in 1999 when I did my Open water certification. That trip, we stayed on Pulau Dayang, just a channel width away.
So our merry gang of 5: Myself, David, Teck Hwee, Kian Tak and Ruifang assembled at The Riverwalk Building on 30 March at 1900 hrs. The dive company this occasion was Friendly Waters Seasports. It was a PADI certified dive centre. There were a few groups gathered that night, some recreational while others were on a rescue diver course.
After some brief administrative details, we were on our way north once again. We arrived at the jetty at Tanjong Leman at about 2330 hrs. We boarded the Samudera Quest for the painfully slow ride to Aur. Arrival at Divers’ Lodge was at 0430 hrs. The boat moored at a floating platform that doubled up at a charging station and a sampan ferry service was required to get to Lodge.
Accomodation was comfortable with Teck Hwee, David and I sharing a room. There was a double decker bed which proved adequate for the three of us. The condition of the room was clean but bare. Small gaps in the wooden floorboard enabled us to see through below. Tak and Ruifang took the adjacent room. Each chalet had 2 rooms and the chalets were scattered on the face of the slope that rose steeply from the water’s edge. Wooden paths and staircases connected the different chalets from the dining area and dive centre.
In all, we had a total of 5 dives. 3 on 31st and 2 on 1st April morning. On the first day, the weather took a turn for the worse during the surface interval after the 3rd dive. Being lazy and not wanting to brave the cold and wetness, we opted to skip the night dive in exchange for a nice warm bath and clean dry clothes. The next morning’s dawn dive was at the unearthly hour of 0700 hrs. The skies too opened after the morning dive and the 2nd dive of the day started off with a whole boat of half clothed divers, huddling and shivering on the boat enroute to the dive site.
Overall, the food was good with a BBQ dinner on the first night. It was a pity the rain came and dampened the festive mood and all of us had to rush to get our food out of the wet rain. Food and drink was always available between dives and always much appreciated, especially the piping hot maggi noodles on day 1.
The difference between this and the other trips I’ve been on? I got myself an underwater housing for the digital camera and therefore, you will be able to at least share in the view of the world underwater.
See here for dive photos.
In all, a satisfying and good trip. as discussed, a dive every 4-6 months will be a good interval for us who are not fanatics, but still wish to keep in touch with a sport that opens a whole new world to us. Till the next dive!
It has been an interval of 8 years since last dived at the Aur region. The last time was in 1999 when I did my Open water certification. That trip, we stayed on Pulau Dayang, just a channel width away.
So our merry gang of 5: Myself, David, Teck Hwee, Kian Tak and Ruifang assembled at The Riverwalk Building on 30 March at 1900 hrs. The dive company this occasion was Friendly Waters Seasports. It was a PADI certified dive centre. There were a few groups gathered that night, some recreational while others were on a rescue diver course.
After some brief administrative details, we were on our way north once again. We arrived at the jetty at Tanjong Leman at about 2330 hrs. We boarded the Samudera Quest for the painfully slow ride to Aur. Arrival at Divers’ Lodge was at 0430 hrs. The boat moored at a floating platform that doubled up at a charging station and a sampan ferry service was required to get to Lodge.
Accomodation was comfortable with Teck Hwee, David and I sharing a room. There was a double decker bed which proved adequate for the three of us. The condition of the room was clean but bare. Small gaps in the wooden floorboard enabled us to see through below. Tak and Ruifang took the adjacent room. Each chalet had 2 rooms and the chalets were scattered on the face of the slope that rose steeply from the water’s edge. Wooden paths and staircases connected the different chalets from the dining area and dive centre.
In all, we had a total of 5 dives. 3 on 31st and 2 on 1st April morning. On the first day, the weather took a turn for the worse during the surface interval after the 3rd dive. Being lazy and not wanting to brave the cold and wetness, we opted to skip the night dive in exchange for a nice warm bath and clean dry clothes. The next morning’s dawn dive was at the unearthly hour of 0700 hrs. The skies too opened after the morning dive and the 2nd dive of the day started off with a whole boat of half clothed divers, huddling and shivering on the boat enroute to the dive site.
Overall, the food was good with a BBQ dinner on the first night. It was a pity the rain came and dampened the festive mood and all of us had to rush to get our food out of the wet rain. Food and drink was always available between dives and always much appreciated, especially the piping hot maggi noodles on day 1.
The difference between this and the other trips I’ve been on? I got myself an underwater housing for the digital camera and therefore, you will be able to at least share in the view of the world underwater.
See here for dive photos.
In all, a satisfying and good trip. as discussed, a dive every 4-6 months will be a good interval for us who are not fanatics, but still wish to keep in touch with a sport that opens a whole new world to us. Till the next dive!
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
My Mum's Cuisine
Dinner tonight was at My Mum's Cuisine. This was chanced upon while scouting around the basement of Paragon for a suitable dinner spot.
What struck was the Peranakan type decor with oldne mosaic tiles lining the outlet. Another thing that caught my eye was the three chicken hanging in the display. Suddenly, pangs of hunger struck. I grabbed the wife and whisked her into the restaurant.
While humble and olden looking, the prices of the dishes was anything but humble. Though not exorbitant, it was not quite the price one would expect to pay for the fare offered. The menus showed semblances of a Peranakan menu but closer inspection revealed otherwise. There was quite a wide selection of food but I settled for a Fried Seafood Tang Hoon($8) while Fran picked the Fried Bee Hoon with Soft Shell Crab ($15). We actually wanted the Sayur Lodeh but it was unavailable so we settle for a sambal kang kong ($6) and a bowl of double boiled watercress soup ($5).
The portions served was not generous but adequate and surprisingly filling. Taste was good and therefore made the price of the meal a lot more palatable. One would be inclined to come back again but having more people would allow us to order more of the a la carte dishes.
If you are keen, here is the locale
Paragon Orchard
#B1 - 42/43
+65 6734 5990
What struck was the Peranakan type decor with oldne mosaic tiles lining the outlet. Another thing that caught my eye was the three chicken hanging in the display. Suddenly, pangs of hunger struck. I grabbed the wife and whisked her into the restaurant.
While humble and olden looking, the prices of the dishes was anything but humble. Though not exorbitant, it was not quite the price one would expect to pay for the fare offered. The menus showed semblances of a Peranakan menu but closer inspection revealed otherwise. There was quite a wide selection of food but I settled for a Fried Seafood Tang Hoon($8) while Fran picked the Fried Bee Hoon with Soft Shell Crab ($15). We actually wanted the Sayur Lodeh but it was unavailable so we settle for a sambal kang kong ($6) and a bowl of double boiled watercress soup ($5).
The portions served was not generous but adequate and surprisingly filling. Taste was good and therefore made the price of the meal a lot more palatable. One would be inclined to come back again but having more people would allow us to order more of the a la carte dishes.
If you are keen, here is the locale
Paragon Orchard
#B1 - 42/43
+65 6734 5990
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Malaysian Number Plates
I have always been amazed at the multitude of letters on the number plates of Malaysian vehicles. Never knew why or how to identify where the vehicles are from. If you ever had the same problem, this post is for you.
Malaysian license plates have one or more letters followed by 4 numerical digits. The general colour scheme of the plates are white lettering on a black background. I said general because this does not apply to all groups of people for example the diplomats.
These license plates are issued by the Malaysian Road Transport Department however vehicles are registered by state and each bear the state’s unique identifying letters, thus the multitude of letter combinations.
I have the letters listed below for your reference:
Kuala Lumpur W
Selangor B
Perak A
Penang P
Kedah K
Perlis R
Kelantan D
Trenggannu T
Pahang C
Johor J
Melaka M
Negeri Sembilan N
Sarawak Q
Sabah S
Other special groups:
Diplomat DC
Military Z
I hope this allows you to figure out where the %^&((*& guy, who just overtook you at 160km/h, is from!
Malaysian license plates have one or more letters followed by 4 numerical digits. The general colour scheme of the plates are white lettering on a black background. I said general because this does not apply to all groups of people for example the diplomats.
These license plates are issued by the Malaysian Road Transport Department however vehicles are registered by state and each bear the state’s unique identifying letters, thus the multitude of letter combinations.
I have the letters listed below for your reference:
Kuala Lumpur W
Selangor B
Perak A
Penang P
Kedah K
Perlis R
Kelantan D
Trenggannu T
Pahang C
Johor J
Melaka M
Negeri Sembilan N
Sarawak Q
Sabah S
Other special groups:
Diplomat DC
Military Z
I hope this allows you to figure out where the %^&((*& guy, who just overtook you at 160km/h, is from!
Friday, March 23, 2007
Fourth Landy Improvement
Today marked another landy improvement project, the 4th in the series so far. I have long eyed a change in shock absorbers. There was an earlier plan last year to bring in some shocks from the UK but the plan fell through. So once again the hunt for new shocks led to Nam Seng, who carried a pretty good stock of Koni Shock absorbers.
After much consideration, I took the plunge at got in installed today. See below specifications of the ones I installed.
KONI Heavy Track™ SPX Performance Shocks
Tested in the rough deserts of Morocco, Heavy Track SPX Performance shock absorbers ensure greater stability and greater stamina for both drivers and vehicles off-road. On the road, you can count on greater comfort, a higher level of safety, more stability and better road holding. In short, Heavy Track SPX Performance shock absorbers are perfect 'all road' shock absorbers, regardless of driving conditions.
KONI Heavy Track™ SPX Performance Shocks Offer Additional Features:
Compress-to-adjust design allows adjustable dampening for on or off-road conditions.
Twin-tube design improves ride quality and durability.
Steel stone guard for maximum protection of piston rod and seal.
Damper characteristics specially tuned for off-road use.
Specially set bottom valve for 4x4 use.
Larger reservoir with more oil for improved heat transfer.
The bright red shocks look quite good
Verdict so far: money well spent! the ride is smoother and soaks up most of the minor irregularities on the road. The car is slightly higher than before, giving the Landy a good ride height. Actually, it did not raise the truck just rather bringing it back closer to original.
Now I wonder when and what will be the 5th landy improvement.
After much consideration, I took the plunge at got in installed today. See below specifications of the ones I installed.
KONI Heavy Track™ SPX Performance Shocks
Tested in the rough deserts of Morocco, Heavy Track SPX Performance shock absorbers ensure greater stability and greater stamina for both drivers and vehicles off-road. On the road, you can count on greater comfort, a higher level of safety, more stability and better road holding. In short, Heavy Track SPX Performance shock absorbers are perfect 'all road' shock absorbers, regardless of driving conditions.
KONI Heavy Track™ SPX Performance Shocks Offer Additional Features:
Compress-to-adjust design allows adjustable dampening for on or off-road conditions.
Twin-tube design improves ride quality and durability.
Steel stone guard for maximum protection of piston rod and seal.
Damper characteristics specially tuned for off-road use.
Specially set bottom valve for 4x4 use.
Larger reservoir with more oil for improved heat transfer.
The bright red shocks look quite good
Verdict so far: money well spent! the ride is smoother and soaks up most of the minor irregularities on the road. The car is slightly higher than before, giving the Landy a good ride height. Actually, it did not raise the truck just rather bringing it back closer to original.
Now I wonder when and what will be the 5th landy improvement.
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
My Baby Niece
My Niece
I have a new niece. My sister delivered yesterday at Thomson medical centre to a healthy baby girl.
Joelle Wong Jyn Ern
2.74 kg
47 cm
@ TMC, 1747 hrs
Photos at Baby Joelle
I have a new niece. My sister delivered yesterday at Thomson medical centre to a healthy baby girl.
Joelle Wong Jyn Ern
2.74 kg
47 cm
@ TMC, 1747 hrs
Photos at Baby Joelle
Oympus Mju 725 SW
I have finally bitten the bullet and done it; gone ahead to buy an underwater camera system. This was an issue long considered both whether there was a need and also which system to get.
To shorten a long story, a digital system was decided on even though there was an initial temptation to get a dedicated underwater film camera. It was to expensive to get a professional housing to fit my digital SLRs. It was a futile attempt to get the canon underwater housing for my ancient powershot S30.. There was little choice but to get a newer camera together with the housing.
Though I have never considered thr Olympus line of cameras, closer research revealed quite a gem for my purposes and lifestyle. Intro the olympus mju ( prnounced mew). It is a compact point and shoot camera with 3x optical zoom and reasonable control of all functions. Most attractive is its built in ability to withstand shocks and water up to 5m in depth. Now I can take the camera out in the rain, spalsh it with mud, jump into a pool with it and even go kayaking with it, all without using the housing.
So now I proudly own a Olympus mju 725SW. With the underwater housing PT-033, the operational depth is extended to 40m.
Model: Olympus Mju 725SW
2 original Olympus Li-ion batteries
PT-033 underwater housing
1 GB and 512 MB xD cards
To shorten a long story, a digital system was decided on even though there was an initial temptation to get a dedicated underwater film camera. It was to expensive to get a professional housing to fit my digital SLRs. It was a futile attempt to get the canon underwater housing for my ancient powershot S30.. There was little choice but to get a newer camera together with the housing.
Though I have never considered thr Olympus line of cameras, closer research revealed quite a gem for my purposes and lifestyle. Intro the olympus mju ( prnounced mew). It is a compact point and shoot camera with 3x optical zoom and reasonable control of all functions. Most attractive is its built in ability to withstand shocks and water up to 5m in depth. Now I can take the camera out in the rain, spalsh it with mud, jump into a pool with it and even go kayaking with it, all without using the housing.
So now I proudly own a Olympus mju 725SW. With the underwater housing PT-033, the operational depth is extended to 40m.
Model: Olympus Mju 725SW
2 original Olympus Li-ion batteries
PT-033 underwater housing
1 GB and 512 MB xD cards
Sunday, March 11, 2007
10 March 2007 Surprise!
This marked the part 2 of this year's birthday celebrations. This involved a rather sneaky but ingenious plan hatched by fran to make this a surprising but memorable occasion.
It all started when my friend, Farhan, messaged and asked me out for coffee on Saturday at 5pm. This was rather odd as we have never met for coffee before dinner. I was not keen initially but he was surprisingly persistent. So since he claimed to have a dinner appointment, I agreed as we would have to split before dinner. So we met at TCC at Velocity.
Farhan needed to wait for his wife to turn up so we sat around till about 7pm when she turned up. He then asked if he could come to my place to see a couple of textbooks. Strange request so it sparked a suspicion that something was brewing at home. I tried not to think too much about it otherwise I might spoil my own surprise. Ha.
When we came up on the lift to the 19th floor, there was a catered dinner outside the lift landing. There was no one around and my home door was closed. However, there was a stray slipper belonging to our neighbour outside our house. So there must be others in our house.
When the door opened, I was surprised! Not so much that there were people in the house waiting for me to get back but rather the number and breadth of my friends who where invited. It was rather overwhelming as they were friends who I have gone through significant activities together but due to work commmitments, have not met for quite some time.
There was a birthday sign hanging from the foyer beams and 4-5 streamers of stars at the door entrance. There was a cake with 3 candles with the number 30 made from wax at the top. There were so many people to speak but so little time.
The Lims
Yiyong and Jasmine (minus lucky)
Felix and Alicia
Andrew and Wan Ling
Fred and Lay Fang
Laurine
Karen and John
Vernon and Jocelyn
Desmond and Julie
Graeme and Shanren
Farhan and Haslina
Dehui
Ivan (minus Juan)
My family
Fran's family
It was a very good gathering. I did not have enough time to speak to everyone as much as I wanted to. The atmosphere was good and time all too short as soon friends had to go.
I have to thank my wife, Fran, for working so hard to make this all happen. To organise the dinner, getting my friend's contacts and arranging for them all to be here. Most difficult was to orchestrate my departure from home and making sure I got back when needed.
I do not have photos of my own but here are those taken for me...
My Big 30
Here is just a shot of me.
It all started when my friend, Farhan, messaged and asked me out for coffee on Saturday at 5pm. This was rather odd as we have never met for coffee before dinner. I was not keen initially but he was surprisingly persistent. So since he claimed to have a dinner appointment, I agreed as we would have to split before dinner. So we met at TCC at Velocity.
Farhan needed to wait for his wife to turn up so we sat around till about 7pm when she turned up. He then asked if he could come to my place to see a couple of textbooks. Strange request so it sparked a suspicion that something was brewing at home. I tried not to think too much about it otherwise I might spoil my own surprise. Ha.
When we came up on the lift to the 19th floor, there was a catered dinner outside the lift landing. There was no one around and my home door was closed. However, there was a stray slipper belonging to our neighbour outside our house. So there must be others in our house.
When the door opened, I was surprised! Not so much that there were people in the house waiting for me to get back but rather the number and breadth of my friends who where invited. It was rather overwhelming as they were friends who I have gone through significant activities together but due to work commmitments, have not met for quite some time.
There was a birthday sign hanging from the foyer beams and 4-5 streamers of stars at the door entrance. There was a cake with 3 candles with the number 30 made from wax at the top. There were so many people to speak but so little time.
The Lims
Yiyong and Jasmine (minus lucky)
Felix and Alicia
Andrew and Wan Ling
Fred and Lay Fang
Laurine
Karen and John
Vernon and Jocelyn
Desmond and Julie
Graeme and Shanren
Farhan and Haslina
Dehui
Ivan (minus Juan)
My family
Fran's family
It was a very good gathering. I did not have enough time to speak to everyone as much as I wanted to. The atmosphere was good and time all too short as soon friends had to go.
I have to thank my wife, Fran, for working so hard to make this all happen. To organise the dinner, getting my friend's contacts and arranging for them all to be here. Most difficult was to orchestrate my departure from home and making sure I got back when needed.
I do not have photos of my own but here are those taken for me...
My Big 30
Here is just a shot of me.
9th March 2007 Gordon Grill
It was a long day waiting for the time when Fran was going to celebrate my special day with me. When the time came, we met at the Goodwood Park hotel car park where she had made arrangements for dinner.
I have heard of Gordon Grill before but did not suspect that she might be bringing me here to dinner. The ambience was good but the place was not large. It was rather empty when we got there with only a table of japanese diners. It was a different setting from Morton's. The place was famous for its steaks and the Wagyu beef served. This was an opportunity to try the wagyu that has so often been raved about.
I had the lobster bisque soup and we shared a platter of oysters. Main course was a nicely done wagyu beef cheek with a slab of foie gras. The beef cheek was good and aged well but I could not feel the marbling that the wagyu is famous for. It was very tender nonetheless. What really stood out was the foie gras. It was oily and putting a piece of it in the mouth, it just melted away. It was magnificent.
What was distinctive was the meat trolley that went around if diners decided to order the steak. Slabs of wagyu prime rib and angus filet mignon lay wrapped in the wooden trolley. Prices were high with a 10gm of wagyu steak costing $4.50. An average steak of 250gm would have cost $135. We hesitated to do the prime rib thing but after dinner, it was clear that we would be back to dinner here once again.
Dinner was washed down with glasses of cafe lattes and a birthday cake to commemorate the occasion.
So for if you have something special, this place would be a good place to try out
Gordon Grill
Goodwood Park Hotel
67301744 for reservations
dinner hours from 7-1030 pm
It was a very good and pleasant birthday dinner.
I have heard of Gordon Grill before but did not suspect that she might be bringing me here to dinner. The ambience was good but the place was not large. It was rather empty when we got there with only a table of japanese diners. It was a different setting from Morton's. The place was famous for its steaks and the Wagyu beef served. This was an opportunity to try the wagyu that has so often been raved about.
I had the lobster bisque soup and we shared a platter of oysters. Main course was a nicely done wagyu beef cheek with a slab of foie gras. The beef cheek was good and aged well but I could not feel the marbling that the wagyu is famous for. It was very tender nonetheless. What really stood out was the foie gras. It was oily and putting a piece of it in the mouth, it just melted away. It was magnificent.
What was distinctive was the meat trolley that went around if diners decided to order the steak. Slabs of wagyu prime rib and angus filet mignon lay wrapped in the wooden trolley. Prices were high with a 10gm of wagyu steak costing $4.50. An average steak of 250gm would have cost $135. We hesitated to do the prime rib thing but after dinner, it was clear that we would be back to dinner here once again.
Dinner was washed down with glasses of cafe lattes and a birthday cake to commemorate the occasion.
So for if you have something special, this place would be a good place to try out
Gordon Grill
Goodwood Park Hotel
67301744 for reservations
dinner hours from 7-1030 pm
It was a very good and pleasant birthday dinner.
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Ramunia
Four days of kayaking, eating and sleeping. Priority was in the same order too. The title of the post tells of the location of the most exciting kayaking course attended so far. From the 18-21 Jan, the 4 star kayaking training course was conducted by Outward Bound Singapore and Changi Sea Sports Club.
Weather was initially disappointing. Seeing how it was storming the past 2 weeks before we arrived, I thought that the rain and wind would make the sea a little more challenging. But it worked out pretty well as the wind did pick up over the next few days and the waves did get bigger. By the end of the course, I was humbled by the raw power that mother nature can harness and hurl at us.
So we spent the few days, soaking wet, jumping in and out of the boats and attempting to garner what little control we can to impress the instructors enough to pass us. Under the watchful eyes of our 'spotters' on the beach, we made sure we did not stray and collide against other kayakists, who similarly were tossed about by the waves.
Occasionally, actually quite often, after getting dunked by the waves and rolling ourselves into an upright position, we were often confronted with the big "L" sign by our spotters (Read LOSER) It was good fun!
So officially, I am glad to say that I have made it through the 4 star course. Just have a couple more expeditons to go in order to qualify for the award. That should be anytime soon.
A shot of our group of three
Weather was initially disappointing. Seeing how it was storming the past 2 weeks before we arrived, I thought that the rain and wind would make the sea a little more challenging. But it worked out pretty well as the wind did pick up over the next few days and the waves did get bigger. By the end of the course, I was humbled by the raw power that mother nature can harness and hurl at us.
So we spent the few days, soaking wet, jumping in and out of the boats and attempting to garner what little control we can to impress the instructors enough to pass us. Under the watchful eyes of our 'spotters' on the beach, we made sure we did not stray and collide against other kayakists, who similarly were tossed about by the waves.
Occasionally, actually quite often, after getting dunked by the waves and rolling ourselves into an upright position, we were often confronted with the big "L" sign by our spotters (Read LOSER) It was good fun!
So officially, I am glad to say that I have made it through the 4 star course. Just have a couple more expeditons to go in order to qualify for the award. That should be anytime soon.
A shot of our group of three
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Miss Daisy is Back!!!
Today, Miss Daisy was discharged from the workshop after having some surgery done to her front left fender region. This all started 2 and 1/2 weeks ago on 18 Dec when I got her into an accident with a lorry. It was pure carelessness on my part and I should have really been a bit more careful.
The damage was more serious than it should have been, considering the circumstances of the accident. I can only put it down to pure unluckiness that produced the severity of body damage. After an eternity of quotations from various workshops, negotiations and other administrative hold-ups, work finally started a week ago and completed today.
It was a trying time initially, getting to work and around without Miss Daisy. However, looking back at the past 2 weeks, life did slow down a little. I was more careful not to create too tight a schedule for myself so as to allow time for travelling. I resorted more to the old, reliable form of transportation by walking. It created a certain breathing space in an otherwise packed and crazy schedule in my life.
It was a with some trepidation that I went to collect her today. I was worried about the workmanship, the paintwork etc... however, after giving her a lookover, she looks none the worse.
So today is a good day.... if you see her back on the road, give a HONK!
The damage was more serious than it should have been, considering the circumstances of the accident. I can only put it down to pure unluckiness that produced the severity of body damage. After an eternity of quotations from various workshops, negotiations and other administrative hold-ups, work finally started a week ago and completed today.
It was a trying time initially, getting to work and around without Miss Daisy. However, looking back at the past 2 weeks, life did slow down a little. I was more careful not to create too tight a schedule for myself so as to allow time for travelling. I resorted more to the old, reliable form of transportation by walking. It created a certain breathing space in an otherwise packed and crazy schedule in my life.
It was a with some trepidation that I went to collect her today. I was worried about the workmanship, the paintwork etc... however, after giving her a lookover, she looks none the worse.
So today is a good day.... if you see her back on the road, give a HONK!
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Song of Kilimanjaro
Kilimanjaro Song
Found this Kilimanjaro song. One that the porters sing to the group on the way down the mountain.
It is so cheerful and a wonderful conclusion to a great climb.
Kilimanjaro. Highest point on the continent of Africa. 5895m.
Found this Kilimanjaro song. One that the porters sing to the group on the way down the mountain.
It is so cheerful and a wonderful conclusion to a great climb.
Kilimanjaro. Highest point on the continent of Africa. 5895m.
Monday, November 06, 2006
Quink
Welcome to our latest addition to our family, Quink. Ironically named after the famous Parker range of fountain pen coloured inks. He is our third and latest member of the Schnauzer brood. Fran and I must be Schnauzer crazy. We would not have gotten any other breed of dog.
Some facts first... he is 8 weeks old, Miniature Schnauzer and beautifully white. Picked him up from the pet shop at Bukit Panjang Plaza on 4 Nov 06. His birthday being listed as 21 August 06.
He is a definitely a contrast to the colour of our other dogs. Shy initially, over the past 2 days, he has shed all inhibitions and has been running around the whole place, biting any soft toy he can find and nipping at Nelle and Socks whenever he can. He is a curious little puppy but has shown signs of being an intelligent little fellow.
Introducing our new pet, Quink!
Some facts first... he is 8 weeks old, Miniature Schnauzer and beautifully white. Picked him up from the pet shop at Bukit Panjang Plaza on 4 Nov 06. His birthday being listed as 21 August 06.
He is a definitely a contrast to the colour of our other dogs. Shy initially, over the past 2 days, he has shed all inhibitions and has been running around the whole place, biting any soft toy he can find and nipping at Nelle and Socks whenever he can. He is a curious little puppy but has shown signs of being an intelligent little fellow.
Introducing our new pet, Quink!
Four Star Kayaking ****
I have officially signed up for the 4 star kayaking award course to be conducted in Jan 07. This will be held in Ramunia, Johor during the monsoon season. This 4 star award is the standard adopted by the Singapore Canoe Federation and is based largely on the British Canoe Union (BCU) standards.
Having come a long way through the various kayaking awards, the 4 star is divided into two categories, sea and river. This course covers the sea and open water component, where advanced skills are taught to the paddler to evaluate and tackle more difficult sea conditions. This is a precious opportunity to be exposed to difficult waves and seas, This will definitely stand me in good stead as I continue to acquire and refine skills that will enable me to go further and safer.
Look at the course syllabus under the following link:
SCF 4-Star Award Syllabus
Just as an end to this entry, I share with you all the picture shown above of incredible wave conditions. If this is what the skills can enable me to do... awesome!
Having come a long way through the various kayaking awards, the 4 star is divided into two categories, sea and river. This course covers the sea and open water component, where advanced skills are taught to the paddler to evaluate and tackle more difficult sea conditions. This is a precious opportunity to be exposed to difficult waves and seas, This will definitely stand me in good stead as I continue to acquire and refine skills that will enable me to go further and safer.
Look at the course syllabus under the following link:
SCF 4-Star Award Syllabus
Just as an end to this entry, I share with you all the picture shown above of incredible wave conditions. If this is what the skills can enable me to do... awesome!
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Back from Trail Bashing
We have just reached home after a four day three night expedition into the Malaysian rainforest. I am pleased to announce that driver, Fran and miss daisy are alright. Although a little dirtier than expected. It has been a long drive home, having left Kuala Tahan just before noon.
It was fun to see the stares from passing vehicles as our mud-caked vehicle passed them on the road home from the Second Link. Being so tired, only the essentials were brought up from Miss Daisy. Unloading and cleaning her will have to be left to tomorrow.
Over the next few posts, details of the trip will be shared and pictures from the trip will come online too. Come back for more exciting details from the Mat Daling trail.
6 Nov 2006
I have just uploaded the photos from the trip. Please follow the link below for a photolog of the journey.
Mat Daling Photography
It was fun to see the stares from passing vehicles as our mud-caked vehicle passed them on the road home from the Second Link. Being so tired, only the essentials were brought up from Miss Daisy. Unloading and cleaning her will have to be left to tomorrow.
Over the next few posts, details of the trip will be shared and pictures from the trip will come online too. Come back for more exciting details from the Mat Daling trail.
6 Nov 2006
I have just uploaded the photos from the trip. Please follow the link below for a photolog of the journey.
Mat Daling Photography
Saturday, October 14, 2006
Yokohama Geolanders MTs
Today is the day I got MTs onto Miss Daisy!
The impetus being the upcoming expedition on the Mat Daling trail. I have been researching on the available options and it is difficult getting MTs in Singapore. At least it's difficult getting the MTs of the right specifications.
I have been advised to get them from across the Causeway. I just have a few problems about driving around in JB, ensuring that the shop there does not botch up the tyre change and fleece me in the process. I also have the small problem of lugging back 5 ATs in the back of my truck. So, the next bet option is just to get them from here.
As luck would have it, the company had in stock 5 Yokohama Geolander MTs, with the same specs as the Grabbers that are on Miss Daisy. I have given much thought about whether to upsize my tyres but I at the end of the day, practicality and common sense overruled the other options and I had to admit that staying the same size would be best. As it is, I already have trouble getting into most carparks, any increase in height will effectively exclude me from ALL indoor carparks.
The Geolanders do not look as fierce as I thought most MTs would. But its look grows on you. I opted for plain black lettering as opposed to the raised white lettering on the sidewalls. I think it was a conservative decision. I negotiated a deal to store the ATs over at the dealer's place and to be able to run back there to swop to ATs when necessary.
Road handling was decent. It was not as loud as I imagined MTs to be. It has a pleasant purr on tarmac with a mild vibration at lower speeds during both acceleration and deceleration. This goes away once we pick up a certain speed. Off road, traction was discernibly better than with the ATs. Maybe it is all in my mind. I will have to confirm its effectiveness but for $250 a piece, it had better work better than the ATs.
The tyres were not cheap but probably a worthwhile investment for this offroading lifestyle. It may not be the best in its class for extreme type terrain but it will probably do for my expected level of offroading. I have included below, a picture of the tyre and the specifications.
The impetus being the upcoming expedition on the Mat Daling trail. I have been researching on the available options and it is difficult getting MTs in Singapore. At least it's difficult getting the MTs of the right specifications.
I have been advised to get them from across the Causeway. I just have a few problems about driving around in JB, ensuring that the shop there does not botch up the tyre change and fleece me in the process. I also have the small problem of lugging back 5 ATs in the back of my truck. So, the next bet option is just to get them from here.
As luck would have it, the company had in stock 5 Yokohama Geolander MTs, with the same specs as the Grabbers that are on Miss Daisy. I have given much thought about whether to upsize my tyres but I at the end of the day, practicality and common sense overruled the other options and I had to admit that staying the same size would be best. As it is, I already have trouble getting into most carparks, any increase in height will effectively exclude me from ALL indoor carparks.
The Geolanders do not look as fierce as I thought most MTs would. But its look grows on you. I opted for plain black lettering as opposed to the raised white lettering on the sidewalls. I think it was a conservative decision. I negotiated a deal to store the ATs over at the dealer's place and to be able to run back there to swop to ATs when necessary.
Road handling was decent. It was not as loud as I imagined MTs to be. It has a pleasant purr on tarmac with a mild vibration at lower speeds during both acceleration and deceleration. This goes away once we pick up a certain speed. Off road, traction was discernibly better than with the ATs. Maybe it is all in my mind. I will have to confirm its effectiveness but for $250 a piece, it had better work better than the ATs.
The tyres were not cheap but probably a worthwhile investment for this offroading lifestyle. It may not be the best in its class for extreme type terrain but it will probably do for my expected level of offroading. I have included below, a picture of the tyre and the specifications.
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Alegria
Why am I blogging about music today...I don't know. I was just listening so some of these old Cirque du Soleil tracks when it stuck me that I really liked a few of the songs found in their shows. 2 in particular will I remember. The first is from the show Alegria, entitled Alegria.
This five minute and forty-three second masterpiece is from the show, Alegria, meaning in Spanish, "Jubilation". The song itself has three parts, beginning in Italian,interludingg in English and concluding in Spanish. The song begins with light almost bell sounding percussions and by the time the chorus kicks in explodes in any orgy of splendor and strings the likes of which Vivaldi could only dream of.
The singer's voice can only be described as enchanting. It is powerful and clear with a raspy sore-throat like quality to it which makes it sound raw and real. Francesca Gagnon is the singer's name.
Try it and see....
This five minute and forty-three second masterpiece is from the show, Alegria, meaning in Spanish, "Jubilation". The song itself has three parts, beginning in Italian,interludingg in English and concluding in Spanish. The song begins with light almost bell sounding percussions and by the time the chorus kicks in explodes in any orgy of splendor and strings the likes of which Vivaldi could only dream of.
The singer's voice can only be described as enchanting. It is powerful and clear with a raspy sore-throat like quality to it which makes it sound raw and real. Francesca Gagnon is the singer's name.
Try it and see....
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Three Years
In a blink of an eye, Fran and I have been married for 3 years.
4 and 5 Oct 2003. 4 Oct was the wedding ceremony and the 5th being the dinner. It just seems like yesterday that it all happened.
Yesterday we went celebrating with a dinner at a quaint little japanese place called Sushi Kikuzawa. A small hole in the wall type of shop with a counter for about 10-12. Some have described it as a close resemblance to a small sushi bar you will find in Japan. For a flat fee, the chef (a real japanese) will prepare the sushi for you. Of course you can either order food that you actually like, but that would not be fun now would it; or you can leave it to the chef to prepare what he likes.
After some initial hesitation, we decided to go for the latter option, trusting that the good chef will prepare the freshest catch of the day. Boy were we surprised with some pretty good stuff. We had a range of nigiri sushi that we would normally not try. The unagi was particularly well done with a few bursts of fire from a blow torch. Wow!
We even had a taste of the fugu. This is the famed puffer fish. The flesh is edible but the innards are poisonous. The taste was rather bland but I think the thrill comes from knowing its potential for harm
All in all, we had a very good experience. It will be a tough decision to go back to the usual sushi joints with the conveyor belts. For you foodies out there, the address of the place is:
Sushi Kikuzawa
360, Orchard Road
International building
#02-13
4 and 5 Oct 2003. 4 Oct was the wedding ceremony and the 5th being the dinner. It just seems like yesterday that it all happened.
Yesterday we went celebrating with a dinner at a quaint little japanese place called Sushi Kikuzawa. A small hole in the wall type of shop with a counter for about 10-12. Some have described it as a close resemblance to a small sushi bar you will find in Japan. For a flat fee, the chef (a real japanese) will prepare the sushi for you. Of course you can either order food that you actually like, but that would not be fun now would it; or you can leave it to the chef to prepare what he likes.
After some initial hesitation, we decided to go for the latter option, trusting that the good chef will prepare the freshest catch of the day. Boy were we surprised with some pretty good stuff. We had a range of nigiri sushi that we would normally not try. The unagi was particularly well done with a few bursts of fire from a blow torch. Wow!
We even had a taste of the fugu. This is the famed puffer fish. The flesh is edible but the innards are poisonous. The taste was rather bland but I think the thrill comes from knowing its potential for harm
All in all, we had a very good experience. It will be a tough decision to go back to the usual sushi joints with the conveyor belts. For you foodies out there, the address of the place is:
Sushi Kikuzawa
360, Orchard Road
International building
#02-13
Monday, October 02, 2006
Running the Singapore Marathon 2006
The time has come to train for the Marathon again. Having taken part in my first marathon last year, I never thought the day would come when I would sign up once again for such an inhuman race. However, I have parted with 30+ bucks to torture myself again and so it is high time I start training to minimise the pain during the race.
But seriously, the desire or need to complete this gruelling race in a shorter time compared to last year is the main motivation for doing it again. I completed it last year in a time of 5 and a half hours. Quite an achievement and unexpected for my state of fitness and preparation last year.
This year I have decided to follow a training guide posted on the internet. It is designed to allow one to complete it below 5 hours. Although it is a 21 week program, I am starting at the 8 week mark. It will be tough but I think it can be done.
So officially, I have started my marathon training. 3 Dec, here I come!
But seriously, the desire or need to complete this gruelling race in a shorter time compared to last year is the main motivation for doing it again. I completed it last year in a time of 5 and a half hours. Quite an achievement and unexpected for my state of fitness and preparation last year.
This year I have decided to follow a training guide posted on the internet. It is designed to allow one to complete it below 5 hours. Although it is a 21 week program, I am starting at the 8 week mark. It will be tough but I think it can be done.
So officially, I have started my marathon training. 3 Dec, here I come!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
