July - 2010

It's been @ long time I didn't update my blog. Guess it's been a busy month with Tour De France live on Eurosport channel. Two Specialized riders - Alberto Contador vs. Andy Schleck - great showdown by this 2 riders. Alberto Contador won his 3rd Tour De France and Andy was a great contender for the title.

This month - I managed to pedal up PG hill @ 43min 08 sec. Cycled 140km from Butterworth to Gunung Jerai and back. The time clocked from the foot hill of Gunung Jerai to the summit was 1hr 05 minutes. Improved 10 minutes from my previous record - 1hr 15 min.

Enough of cycling.

I wonder what does our leaders of our nation is doing to help the poor. I don't wanna be a racist here but overall I still see Indians living in poverty. I saw a Indian lady and her son separating aluminium cans and plastics bottle from the garbage bag at the back of car park. I still see Malay on motorbike with his wife and 2 little children. While our UMNO leaders are enjoying their live and living in their luxurious palace. They so called claim that they wanna defend the Malays. I wonder are they defending the Malay people in general or their own cronies?

I cycled with people from all races - when I met with an accident on my mountain bikes it was a Malay man that stop and help me. There are no more racial issues in our society, it's only the leaders who are corrupt that are trying to play this stupid childish sentiments with the society.

Here is a snap shot of what happen during the weekend. Finished 164th among 1684 riders @ the Nibong Tebal USM Jamboree.

Penang Hill - 833m above sea level

I can still remember the first time I hiked PG Hill. It was 1990, I was Form 2 during that time. I was there again in 1992. After 10 years, I went hiking on every weekend and offday @ Pg Hill with one objective - to loose weight. I was 95kg. This is what I called - overweight. Managed to reduced 15kg. Weight down to 80kg.
I first cycling tuition class up to Pg Hill was in 2004. It took me 1hr 30 minutes to reach the summit. I pushed the bike more than I cycle the bike and not forgetting the weight of the bike is 14kg - my body weight is at 78kg.
I thought that my time has improved since I can do it within 1hr 10 minutes. I keep pushing for years. Seeing little progress from year to year. Year 2009 - fastest record was 56 minutes to reach the summit.
Begining of 2010 - my fastest record to reach the summit was 54 minutes. Mid of May - I improved 4 minutes from the previous record when I clock the time of 50 minutes to the summit.
Last weekend - My Saturday record was 48 minutes 15 sec. My Sunday record was 45 minuntes 51 sec. I've come this far.... I know what with strong determination and the right attitude - everytihing can be achieved. This year, my riding skills improved thanks to my "sifu". He was the one guiding me when I broke my own record of 48 min 15 sec. I never thought I could have cycle up in less than 46 minutes.
I feel great - I thanked "sifu" when I reached the summit.

The life I found with cycling

I've been cycling a lot lately. I got a good "sifu" that taught me how to control and balance my bike on single track off road trail and how to climb steep terrain. Well, this maybe not my personal best yet but with the results I've achieved lately I would say I never achieve so far.

I got 30th placing among 300 riders in Kulim Jamboree and I finished 120th placing among 1400 riders in Ride Up North @ Perlis. It's been a fruitful results.

In cycling - there's no differentiation in skin color, race, which company you work for or what background are you from.... zero.... we are just bunch of people that like to wake up early to smell the fresh air and enjoy the morning breeze. anyway.... cyclist share the same skin color. coz we are all tanned.

Getting hit by a brick

Sometimes life hits you on the head with a brick. That's the wake up call that I feel that I'm lucky to get before I die. Whatever it is - Don't lose faith!
If you live each day as if it was your last, someday you'll most certainly be right.
Remembering that you're going to die is the best way to avoid the trap of thinking that you have something to lose. Stay hungry Stay foolish.

Ranking 30th / 300 riders

Today February 28th 2010 (Sunday) - I never expected to finished a Mini Jamboree Race in Kulim at the ranking of 30th placing. I was very happy when I saw my ranking @ 36th at the 20km check point. I push hard on the climbing and try not to use that much of braking going down hill. Managed to climb 6 position to finish 30th.
Celebrated the day at Baileys with 6 mugs of Tigger beer, 2 was on the house. At least I have a bunch of people to celebrate with me for this joy that I have. I don't feel that I have a home that I can call a home. I'm sick of pleasing my wife and others, this is not me. I hate pleasing people.
I need a drastic change of my life.

12km run

My meeting from 4pm-5pm overshot today and to make matter worst - have to drive thru the Touch N' Go add value lane to top up my credit. Reached home 6:00pm. Decided not to go for my 40km ride, change to my running attire. The goal for today - to ran for an hour. I was struggling hard to cross the 30 minutes mark - I managed to go thru the 30 minutes mark - everything was on cruise control after that. If I wanted to do Powerman - the first run is 12km then bike for 68km and run another 12km. I ran 12km today. I'm so happy.
But when I reached home - all I hear is complaints from my wife - getting sick of all this nagging. What the fuck is wrong in doing sports? I'm not hanging out at other gal's house. I wonder when can this woman grow up, I just wanna be lean and fit. All she wants is for me to get fat. I cannot tolerate this fucking attitude anymore. Getting sick of it!

The last day of the year / decade

Today mark the last day of the decade - the golden 10 years of my life just past with a glimpse. I've made mistake and I learned from it. It's been a great 10 years. The first 3 years was a bumpy one - financial crisis, main root cause - credit card spending. Managed to clear it by working like a dog for 6 months. Pick myself up and move on......... time to buzz the hill.




Cycled up to PG hill. Nice weather and breathtaking. This is a snap shot of PG island on the last day of the decade. Cool wind and nice breeze. Looking back 10 years..... these are the events that I remember.



2000 - Was at Intel during that time - went back to work on the 1st January for the Y2k cut over. Parents was at home watching fireworks display around the world. Bought my first car in 2000 - a Proton Iswara.



2001 - I know some terrorist crash 2 commercial air plane into the WTC @ NY. Intel share drop. Happy Moments - My elder brother got married. Parents was very happy. I got drunk and puke the whole house.

The sad thing in 2001 - I have to drive my grandmother to the old folks home on that year.

I cried while driving her to the old folks home. She passed away in December @ the old folks home. No family member next to her.

2002 - Went backpacking - London, Liverpool and Dublin. Got dumped by a girl from Ipoh. I was fat - 95kg. Move from Intel Kulim to Intel PG. Work as a Shift Supervisor. Work OT for 6 months to clear all my credit card debt. During that period - I don't know the definition of day or night. I pick myself up on that year - I took up mountain biking and I told myself - I'm going to be fit and lean. My 3rd aunty passed away due to cancer.

2003 - My sister got married. I met someone in the office. She someone that looks like a Shanghai gal to me. She was a Product Engineer for Northwood (Pentium 4). Never talk much to her..... knowing that she comes from a rich family.... who am I? I can just admire her from far. Got transferred out to normal shift job - Project Lead for Autoplan & AUTO SFGI Kitting for Fuse to Order. Great exposure and great visibility for me in front of all the VF management. Report to a great manager - WC.

2004 - Great year - Finally managed to date the Product Engineer - her name is Jiin Siang. First date was on 14th February @ Gloria Jeans - Garage. Official date of becoming a couple - 21 March 2004. I was sent to US for 2 months in May - June. Got promoted on this year - one thing I remember - my boss WC drove all the way from Pg to Kulim to give me the package letter. 25% increment and the number amount of stocks..... blew my mind. 2004 was a great year to remember. When I was in US - WC visited me to check and make sure I'm in one piece.

2005- Bought an Apartment together with JS. I left Intel to join SAP consulting. Met another great lady manager name Linda Lim. She is a great coach and mentor. Got 30% increment for the year 2005. Lance Armstrong won his 7th Tour De France.

2006 - Not a great year at the begining. Was sent to China for 2 months assignment. Delayed my marriage registration. Work on a project @ Prai - tight schedule. Work till 2am-3am every nite. Got married with JS on 30th Sept 2006, the same date with my Chinese birthday. I never see my wife for the next 4 days after my wedding. I went back to work after my wedding ceremony. Got an offer from Dell - 1st interview on Tue, 2nd interview on Wed, medical check up on Thur and sign letter offer, Fri - fly off for honeymoon.

2007 - 3rd Day of CNY - met with an cycling accident. JS cried as she's shocked. My Elder bro did his Langkawi Ironman.

2008 - I lost my grand aunty. Very sad year. When to Australia and Hong Kong for holidays.

2009 - Tough year at work as I was reporting to a "stupid arrogant" boss by the name of Krishnan. He's the most screw up boss I've ever reported to. Got transferred out from the dept and luckily - got promoted. Biggest achievement of the year - Climb Mount Kinabalu under extreme weather conditions. Overall - it's been a great year!