LOB @ Pulau Sembilan, on board KALEEBSO part 1

It all started with an intention to do a last dive for the year 2007....and since the east coast if Peninsula Msia is still in monsson season, we have to opt for dives in the west coast.

Dives in the west coast is very seldom as nice as in the east coast as the waters here are more confined to a small strait compare to a big wide ocean in the east coast....however since we are determine to wanna breath compress air again n with the slogan "A bad dive is always better than the best day in work"....we sign up for 7 seat on board a LOB (Live On Board) trip with Kaleebso.

Due to limited seats....our trip has been delayed to 1st weekend of Jan. Our final dive for 2007 sudah become our 1st dive for 2008 pulak...hehehehe.

After weeks of waiting....finally the day has arrive. The day we all eagerly awaits has arrive.

4th Jan 2008
-8pm
After having our own dinner.....we all meet up at Richard's house. We are convoying in 2 cars with Yew Hong, Chuan and Apple in Chuan's car while Richard, Yvonne, Eric and me are in Richard's car.


Richard checking something...not sure what it is...I think its some anti-puke medicine Yvonne bought.

After resolving some logistic stuffs (shoving which dive bag to which car), we left Richard's house ard 8.15pm. Our destination is Teluk Intan where we will pick up Carrie.


Abang Eric look sleepy...despite belum makan.

-10pm
Sampai Teluk Intan at ard slightly pass 10pm. We procedded to wait for Carrie at the designated spot...the famous leaning clock tower of Teluk Intan.



After waited ard 10 minutes, Carrie join us. We are now heading to the jetty situated in Hutan Melintang.

-11.15pm
Finally we arrive at the jetty and the boat is already waiting for us. Soon all the passengers arrived and we are ready to board the boat.


Everyone ready to board Kaleebso

Ones we are on board.....start lah we all taking picture of...well almost everything. I think those who been to Kaleebso before will feel we are very jakun. Here snap pic, there snap pic....hehehe....even I feel very jakun.


Me and Eric in our small cabin. We share this cabin with Yew Hong....all 3 batang in a small cabin.


A look at our small cabin.


The tanks are ready at the dive deck.


Captain/Skipper Khay Lee at the bridge.

Ones everyone has settle into their room and the boat is on its steady way heading out of the river, Khay Lee gather all of us at the dining deck for a quick intro and also some briefing about Kaleebso, the do's and the don't....etc



After the briefing...we are expecting nasi lemak as supper....but then tarak...haihzzzz. So we went down to the diving deck and set up our gear..., ready for tomorow's morning dive.

5th Jan 2008
-6am
Didn't get much sleep at all...the boat engine is so loud :( Only after the boat was in open sea and it accelerated...then the noice is more tolarable. Woke up feeling like wanna go back to bed n just sleep n drool there.

Did a quick check on the gears and then we procceded to the dining deck for some breakfast and a cup of strong coffee for me.


Everyone pagi pagi muka blur blur.


Somehow Eric look so happy.....maybe coz he slept nicer last nite.


Its dawn....and the water gonna be cold.

Our 1st dive is a check out dive.....basically for us to get used to breathing compress air underwater since quite some time d din do so. Also its for those with new gears to "check out" their new gears.

We dive into green semi murky water with vis somewhere ard 5m. Current is ok...still managable n get to rift dive a bit also, however its a little risky giving that vis is bad. Manage to spot 2 sea horses in thie dive, a black colour one and another is orange.

On the 2nd dive, we went down following a line laid by Khay Lee. The line is suppose to lead us to the sea horse nest which he found. I lead Chuan, Apple, Carrie, Yew Hong and Yvonne on this dive.

To be continued in "LOB @ Pulau Sembilan, on board KALEEBSO part 2"

Lari bukit....seksanya :(

One of my 2008 new year resolution is to ne physically fit again. The reason is becoz I had a few game of mildly intense badminton games few weeks before new year....and I really pancit kaw kaw.

So my "get fit" resolution took off quite well. I went back to Bukit Gasing in the evening of 1st day of new year....walk a few round up the road and tried to run the whole way like what I did last time. Went half way...then patah balik d....coz stamina really pancit.

Today I went again....this time determine to at least kau tim 1 round run from Jln Gasing all the way up to Siva's Temple (near the telco tower) at the top. After some warm up and stretching.....I set my stopwatch and off I go.

Started slowly coz wanna pace myself. Halfway up....already feel the body yelling to stop d....however the mind is determine....so keep going. The last 300m to the top....usually I sprint as fast as I could here....but this time kenot. Tried to sprint.....feel like wanna pengsan so for safety...better not sprint.

Lastly sampai the top also....look at the timer and it records 7 min 22 secs. My first tot is...."WTF....that is slow". Well I used to (few years back) do 3 rounds of run n take the average of the time. Usually it average ard 6 min...with the fastest ever time I make it was 4 min 36 secs. Now I look at 7 mins n 22 secs...wa lau eh.....disapointing.

Anyway....since its really been a long time since I do exercise regularly...I forgive myself lah. Coming to run is already kira baik d. Currently for Jan n Feb...I'll be very free so have time to train up my stamina n fitness. Hopefully by March...I am fit again.

Ganbate.

New Year Liao....2008

OK....finally new year d. 1st posting for the year...as biasa will be new year resolution lor. Every year I make new year resolution....can say resolve bout 80% of them.....some still tercicir. This year I think I wanna increase the rate....so will set more realistic resolution as below:

1- Kau tim my DM training
Ini mesti kau tim in 2008....unless in the process of doin so, I meet some unfortunate incident which make me physically or mentally incapable to complete the course under PADI standards. If that din happen....then this is my top priority resolution.

2- Get fit
In 2007 especially the 2nd quarter onwards....I start to slowdown termendously in sports. I can feel my body feeling lethargic, my reflex slower, my mind not as cergas as use to be....basically whole person getting lazier. Every morning go work also feel tired.....come home also tired...haihzzz...mana boleh ni.

So resolution is to get back fit.....goin to play badminton again, rock climb more n start to run/sprint more d.

3- Better financial planning
Goin to have a permanent job in 2008 finally after working on contract basis job for more than 2 years d. Finally now I can better plan my finances and budget more efficiently.

4- Relationship
Will continue to build and strenghten the foundation of my relationship with my sayang. Basically I would say we drew the blueprint n plant the pilling d in 2007 for the relationship. Now we will continue to strenghten the foundation so in future we can build a strong building for the family to come...hehehehe.

OKlah...so got 4 resolution saja......tak mau set so many this year...now I wanna tido liao.

End year d.....new one coming

Kelip kelip mata saja......sudah 1 year past. So fast gonna say bye bye to 2007 liao and welcome 2008. Also din realize I started this blog for more than a year d.....Well, its that time of the year again....to reflect on what happen in 2007 and what to expect in 2008.

In 2007:

Relationship:
Still goin strong with my "sayang"....in fact getting stronger. During middle of 2007....many people predict I will be getting married soon....judging from my relationship with my sayang. However soon the prediction slowly ease off.....guess they are bz predicting when is the next general election pulak or how much petrol gonna naik harga.

Family:
Sis move out of the house somewhere in Sept....so I end up renting the whole house. Since then...few additional family members have been added to the house. Beckz shift in since goin to work from my house is cheaper n nearer for her.

Then I got 3 kids to add to the family. They are namely Hammie, Sappy and Baby. Go them when they were just babies....now grown more than twice their original size d n still growing. The home feel more lifely with my kids ard.

Work:
Start work in end Jan after my long long 7 months break. Overall it feels good to start working again.....was feeling quite lethargic after such a long break.

There are ups n downs during work...which is normal lah. Overall quite happy becoz I am doin what I like to do.

Lastly....starting tomorow I am again on my breaks again...hehehehe. Basically I was hired as a contractor...and my contract ends today...ngam ngam on new year eve.

Climb mountain:
Nothing much on this area.....still doin few mountains a year. Successfully lead 16 climbers to Gunung Tahan in May.....think I qualify become guide d.....coz that is what the guides told me...hehehehe.

Scuba diving:
Still doin my divemaster course. Really need a lot of commitment doin it part time. Many times the classes clashes with work commitment....n juggling the time is just so so difficult.


Hmmm....I think that is all I can think of now. Rushing to post this posting before it turns 2008......got few more minutes saja.

To anyone reading this.....wish u HAPPY NEW YEAR 2008 :)

Shopping @ DD

Was at Diver's Den (aka DD) last weekend with Apple and Chuan. Basically they are there to get a set of regulators and BCD each, while I am there to kam ching kam ching ard and also to change my regulator 2nd stage hose to the swivel type.

I bawa my reg everything there....then baru been inform that they are out of stock for the swivel hose...aiyah. Have to wait for the to order from stokies and they will call me when they got the stock.

So I sit at the counter n look ard...chatting with the "si tao poh" while Apple n Chuan chooses their BCD n regs. Then I spotted "it"....something I wanted to get for quite some time liao. Its the last unit...n the "si tao poh" say cincai lah...cheap cheap sell to me.

Well...what did I beli...hehehe...see below:


PADI RDP Wheel....aka The Wheel


All in a package (from left)...The Wheel, instruction manual (damm thick) n a quick reference card....keyboard not inclusive :P

Rock Climb in Damai

Its been quite sometime since I last went outdoor to rock climb....hence when Richard invited me to join the Shell Sport Club for a climbing session in Damai, Batu Caves...I accept it without hessitation.

A little info bout rock climbing as below...excerp from wiki:

Rock climbing, broadly speaking, is the act of ascending steep rock formations. Normally, climbers use gear and safety equipment specifically designed for the purpose. Strength, endurance, and mental control, as well as agility and balance, are required to cope with tough, dangerous physical challenges, and knowledge of climbing techniques and the use of essential pieces of gear and equipment are crucial.

Basically its a form of climbing....whether its ourdoor at natural rock wall or indoor in artificial rock walls. Both offers different level of challenges, uniquesness and FUN.

After a light meal of McD Big Breakfast at McD BU (after picking Apple)...we are off to the rock wall in Damai. When we reached there...Richard n the geng already climbing some routes set by him and Wai Meng.


Orang sudah ramai there.....mostly Shell orang.


Melissa trying her skills in climbing. Females usually make better climber than males.


Wai Meng (aka The Flower) belaying and keeping a close eye on Melissa.


Apple choosing her harness n getting ready to climb.


Apple getting some tips from Richard before climbing.


Start climbing liao.....just bout 1.8 meter off the ground.


Goooooooooooooo Apple.


Wah...ada style ler.


Kau tim liao.

This trip is also is the first time Yew Hong climb outdoor. Its a good experience....especially when he tried lead climbing n learn the correct technique to use the quick draws and to hook/tie the rope to the anchor at the top.


1st time doin lead climb.....slowly learning how to hook the quickdraw correctly on the bolt.


Tying the rope to the anchor at the end of the climb.


Descending after tying the rope liao.


Doing another lead on a higher route.


I reckon this route is bout 25m high....quite daring of Yew Hong to lead such a high route on his 1st outdoor trip.

Too bad Yew Hong din manage to finish leading the 2nd route.....its really very tiring as its very high and also he fall ones. Tall routes requires a lot of stamina if you hang too long on the wall. Finally Richard has to complete leading the route at the last few bolts....n as usual...I am the one who clean the "shit"...opppssss....I mean quickdraws after the leader descended :P


Richard leading a technical route. That small bush on the right of his head really kacau lah...got ants summo.


Taking a look at where is the location of the bolt.


This move requires flexibility.


Found the bolt...ok..time to hook it.


Kau tim...reach the anchor at the top d.

After Richard descended....its my turn to go up to collect the....quick draws :)


Up up n away....hehehehe.


eeeee....got semut ah.


Unhook 1 quick draw liao....hooking it back onto my harness.


Goin for another quick draw.


Got it.


Now this is where it gets technical....n flexibility counts.


Reaching for the big crack on the left.


Unhook the last quickdraw d...now time to complete the route.


Kau tim...time to go down.


Turun turun

For more pics....please visit my online album at
Rock Climb in Damai 2007

Who's that gal.....????

Who is this leng lui ah....so sexy n sedusive lah...



Look familiar lah :p

My Best Friend Wedding

Last Sunday is my one and only best friend punya wedding. Sudah lama I waited for him to kahwin....akhirnya the days come also. Was happy for him too...coz his perangai "sap har sap har" a bit wan...so got a wife to jaga him also good.

Wasn't able to make it for his "tendang pintu" ceremony.....which make him kinda upset...hehehe, anyway I make up for it by attending the church wedding.


Church of the holy name of Mary in Permatang Tinggi....so far from Penang Island.


Inside the church....catholic churches usually have nice designs...btw..this is a chinese church.


ah ha...groom sudah sampai...leng chai leh. His bro (at belakang) lagi leng chai ah.


The lovely bride.


Exchanging vows.

I hereby wish Steven Nah and Anne Kee (from now onwards known as Mr & Mrs Nah Chee Siang) semoga bahagia ke anak cucu

Pergi Penang

Was at Penang last weekend for a friend's wedding. Since the wedding reception and dinner is on Sunday....I decided to leave KL to Penang on Friday nite itself after work...so sayang n me can go jln jln a bit on Saturday.

We had all sort of plans for Saturday....however only manage to go to the botanical garden and makan makan at nite saja. All this becoz we are just too tired n find sleep more important than jln jln...hehehehe. Anyway still manage to go breakfast with Beckz punya friend's mama, whom we are staying at her place.

At the botanical garden...., was expecting to see many monkeys. Indeed there were a lot...sampai kena attack by one...hehehehe. This place is famous for joggers too....can see many of them, old and young running ard the garden. Also can see many kahwin orang come here for their outdoor photo shot.

I took the oportunity to put my old Canon Powershot A80 to some closeup pics.










Curi take pic of my sayang also...hehehehe