mr angry man

I know this person that has an explosive personality (explosive being an understatement). The forces of nature have conspired to result in my unfortunate luck of reporting to such a person. I could be doing something right, or I could be doing something wrong, but I still get shouted at, more than anyone in the office, and consistently too. I've been counting the days when I don't get shouted at in the past 2 months and those days were weekends or when he was away or we were away on business trips.

So what do you call this sort of person?

I don't know, but a barking mad dog comes to mind.



Like a crazy rottweiler, he will bite at you for no reason and not let go until his jaws get tired. Couple of weeks ago I would’ve reacted badly to any outburst which I deem unjust. The magnitude of my reactions would be a tit for tat, an eye for an eye, which naturally led to him getting angier and louder, intent on getting the last say. Nowadays, I just don't react to his verbal torrents but that seem to upset him more. Gah.



It hasn’t always been so bad. He was one of my favourite persons once. Now, I can’t even bear to sit on the same lunch table (can’t avoid meeting tables you know). I cringe when I hear him calling me on the stupid speakerphone that swallow words (he gets upset if he has to repeat what he just said) and I feel like going home everytime he ask to see me (mostly he orders me to see him). In fact, I don't particularly feel like getting out of bed, EVERY MORNING.



My rant can fill the pages of a Lord of the Rings novel, so it's suffice to say I will go insane very soon. What's worse, I may turn into him *shudders*.

Vietnam 2009: food diary

Going local

Just around the corner from our hotel, we saw a "sidewalk cafe" with loads of people and decided this has to be the place. You almost always can't go wrong where there's a big crowd and especially when they're all locals.

My Vietnamese vocabulary is extremely limited, but I've learned enough to know when I've chanced upon a porridge or noodle stall and when I should avoid thit cho at all cost. Yet my Vietnamese food words failed me as we didn't come across any pho or bun or chao sign. Still, we pulled out a small blue plastic stool and observed what the next table was having. We asked what it was they were eating and from what few English words we could discern, it seemed like some cow spare parts.

Unperturbed, I waved for the attention of a young man and indicated "one" with my index finger.



I got served a bia hoi. Tastes no different from back home and gave me a pink flush after.

Bia hoi is fresh local beer, which around this region is something they brewed daily. It's not an illegal activity so to speak but the "breweries" are not exactly regulated either. Bia hoi are stored not in barrels but jumbo metal containers with a short hose attached to the bottom, for pouring. An efficient use of garden hose I must say.

Let's try this again

With not much luck there, we decided to hunt down some bun cha (vermicelli with grilled pork and minced pork) instead. Walking further down from the "sidewalk cafe", we turned into Duong Thanh Street. By now, The BF was getting hungry (I had a bia hoi, remember?) and almost all the shops along this street had its shutters down.

As we persevered on, we saw Dac Kim (67 Duong Thanh Street) and the words bun cha... ahhh, a sight for sore eyes. As we walked in, they gave a welcoming smile and ushered us upstairs. A lady asked us how many portions we wanted. Besides bun cha, they also have nem, crab meat spring rolls. "Very good," she said. We asked for one portion of each.



If you think the picture looks good, it tastes even better! The BF, who's got burnt food phobia, lapped it all up without much thought. I guess bun cha takes precedence over phobia, hehe. It's so good I wished I have not had any breakfast or downed that stupid bia hoi, coz I wanted to order two portions of barbeque just for myself. The nem's rather so-so but The BF like it a lot. Prices of food are displayed prominently on the walls, so I'm quite sure they're fair.

Spend a bit

At Vnd100,000 (equivalent to about RM20) per head, it's still a tad too expensive for a kopitiam-ish, rickety chairs and tables set-up. But I really miss cha ca (fried fish) and it's one of the main reasons why I'm back in Hanoi. And the only place I would have this is at Cha Ca La Vong (14 Cha Ca Street).

Like my last visit here, the place is still really popular with tourists and locals. The BF went absolutely bonkers for it (something unexpected) and we ended up eating there twice.




The secret to a good bowl of cha ca noodles is undoubtedly the stinky goodness of mam tom (fine shrimp sauce). You gotta ask for it coz they won't serve it to you if you're not local. Without mam tom, I probably wouldn't enjoy my cha ca noodles as much. I dunno why I like stinky stuff like this and cencalok (fermented tiny prawns) and belacan (dried shrimp paste) but I absolutely cannot stand durians.

Cha Ca La Vong gets packed at dinner time, so one should either make their way there early or just wait out until someone finishes their meal.

Splurge a little

One of those nights we treated ourselves to a nice little dinner at Green Tangerine (48 Hang Be), a self-described gastronomic restaurant and cafe.



This restaurant has won a lot of favourable comments from various food/restaurant forums. I would call their food European with a light Asian touch. I'm not a big fan of fusion but Green Tangerine does it well. No such unsophisticated stuff like spaghetti with green curry sauce. Yucks.

We had 2 soup starters (US$5.40 each), a beef carpaccio (US$7.40), lamb racks for me (US$21.10), salmon for him (US$19.60) and 2 juices (US$1.90 each). Although I love fish, I was glad I had the lamb coz the fish tasted kinda bland in comparison. The interesting flavours of the cous cous coupled with the grilled lamb left me wanting for mooooore. I'm still thinking about it now! Wish I could have some pictures to show you but we were dead tired that night and nobody wanted to lug the camera.

Portions are polite but not à la French, and had we been our usual hungry selves, we definitely need desserts. Although it wasn't cheap by Malaysian or even Vietnamese standards (US$ and Euro spenders would find it more than decent), it was worth it for the quality of food that we got. I can see myself going there again. For better value for money, they do have set lunches at US$8.90 for a main course and dessert.

Reservation is recommended. We strolled in at 7pm to a fully booked restaurant and had to return 2 hours later. Do ask for a table outside, it's much nicer!

Sweets for my sweet

As we were strolling along Hoan Kiem lake one day, we saw this chic French cafe looking shop. We took a peek inside and to our delight, it's an ice cream parlour! Since our tummy was already bloated from overfeeding, we made a pass with a mental note to return.

So on Christmas Eve, after we discovered there's not much partying activities in Hanoi, we made the slow and hazardous journey to Fanny (48 Le Thai To Street).

It seemed like everyone are out in the streets that night. Hoan Kiem lake was exceptionally jam-packed with every boyfriend-girlfriend in Hanoi. The roads circling Hoan Kiem lake was chock-a-block with countless bikes and pedestrians, all apparently heading to St Joseph's Cathedral. If crossing the street was a challenge on normal days, it was an absolute nightmare bordering on suicidal that night.



It wasn't any better at Fanny. There was no queue and it's basically "you get the table if you're nearest to it". A concept not foreign to us Malaysians. We went for a table that's just about finishing and stood next to them quietly. Pressured by our presence, they called for the bill and waited a bit to settle and a bit more for the girlfriend to return from the toilet.

We took longer than necessary to order, thanks to their drool-inducing menu. Their range of flavours are somewhat regular with a couple of not-oft seen ones like nougat, ginger and avocado. BUT, I can tell you dark chocolate is the bestest ever! Order that with some fresh strawberries and float straight to heaven.



Fanny has a website here.

Coffee culture

The Vietnamese love their cuppa. It seemed less like a cup of caffeine boost and more like a lifestyle thing. At any time of day, weekdays or weekends, you can find a crowd in any coffee place, sipping on ca phe sua da (iced milk coffee), watching the world go by. It's as if they don't have to work.

Maybe I should move to Hanoi.

Cafe Nang (6 Hang Bac)

sunny days, sweepin the clouds away

I'm simply loving Google Doodle for the week! It's a bunch of Sesame Street inspired doodle because it's their 40th anniversary this year!

1. It started with the Cookie Monster devouring the "oo" on the 4th



2. Then Bert and Ernie on the 6th



Ernie's my favourite! I love Ernie and his rubber duckie! They're good friends but so different. Even appearance wise, Ernie's chubby and round like an orange while Bert is tall and thin like a banana. For the longest time I thought they were brothers coz they sleep in the same room, haha

3. Oscar the Grouch on 7th



4. Elmo on 8th



5. And Count von Count, or simply The Count, on the 9th



Another of my favourite character. He's the greatest dracula ever, haha. The Count, like his namesake, loves to count. Notice how "Google" look like numbers instead. So cute.

These doodles appear on other countries Google webpage:

6. Big Bird



7. Ieniemienie (Belgium, Netherlands)



8. Boombah & Chamki (India)



9. Abigail (Israel)



10. Kami (South Africa)



11. Aberlardo Montoya (Mexico)



You know, during my days, there's no Ieniemienie or Boombah or Aberlardo. I really don't know who they are. Mine's old-skool, hehe.

Wonder if there'll be any new ones today...

My boyfren don't get why I love Sesame Street so much. He branded them as scary and he thinks talking puppets are a little freaky. Well, I practically grew up with them and I give them partial credit for my non-broken Engrish ;) I still watch them sometimes and some of their sketches are damn funny!

One day, while he was sleeping, I took the liberty of saving some Sesame Street clips into his mobile phone, mostly so I could watch them when I feel like it. Nothing substantially educational, just some silly songs like the ones below. He wasn't too pleased, initially, but for a period of time after that, he couldn't stop singing "Lime in the Coconut" and laughs like it's the funniest thing in the world when Kermit shouts "Doctor!". I converted him into a fan, hehe

So, for your entertainment...











*Update*

Google Doodle for the 10th!



Looks like it may be the last one though, coz the whole family's here! :)

daydreaming?

I wonder what's going on in that furry head, staring into space like that. Is he thinking about something, like running away from this boring home that has too many restrictions?

Go eat outside.
Don't stay in the kitchen.
Stop barking.

Or is he just bored out of his wits? Sometimes, he'll even let out a small sigh. That speak volumes and yet I don't know what it means...

it's the wind blowing free, it's the end of the slope, it's a beam, it's a void, it's a hunch, it's a hope

Waters of March (Águas de Março), a Brazilian song.

I didn't know it was covered by so many famous singers, from Basia to Al Jarreau to Sergio Mendes (OK, I understand he's technically a musician). This one here is performed by Elis Regina accompanied on the piano by the composer himself, Antonio Carlos Jobim.



A very nice English/Portuguese version by a Filipino artiste named Sofia, not the one I heard this afternoon but quite close. Listen to the English lyrics. Quite whimsical and cute.



Original lyrics and translation by Jobim:
http://www.des.emory.edu/mfp/waters.html

trading insults

Nothing like sibling love.

tremors

About half an hour ago, I felt a little lightheaded and not very steady, as if I had a little too much beer. And it came in waves, few seconds apart, each lasting longer than the lull. I thought it could be a sleep deprivation induced hallucination, but after a while it felt quite real. Could it be construction works gone bad downstairs? An earthquake?

I just learned it was indeed an earthquake, at magnitude of 7.9 in Sumatra.

There's a sinking feeling in my heart...

mad cows in Shah Alam

What?? There's a mad cow disease plague in Shah Alam?

Nono, just some people acting like cows, mad ones. Actually, I think it's rather offensive to the cows to use their namesake on those... those... bacteria, gunk in the fish pond, etc.

Huh? So why are there mad cows in Shah Alam?

On August 28th, a group of Malay-Muslim protestors, amid chantings of "Allahu Akbar" (God is great), marched to the Selangor state secretariat building with a severed cow's head, and left it at the entrance. It was said to be a warning and threat that there will be bloodshed if the state government proceed with the proposed relocation of the Sri Maha Mariamman temple from Section 19 to Section 23.

Ehh, why the cow's head?

As far as Khir Toyo is concerned, the cow's head was used because it is a stupid animal and it was brought to show that the state government had made a stupid decision. The cow also happen to be a sacred animal to the Hindus. But this has nothing to do with religious issues at all. Nope, none at all.

Wow. What are the residents so upset about?

Their gripes, in no particular order, includes the following:
1) They claim that noise from the temple will disrupt their daily lives and would disturb their praying (as opposed to the non-disrupting prayers blaring from every mosque and surau in the country five times a day?)
2) The building of a temple in a Muslim majority area is insensitive (with Shah Alam in itself being a Muslim majority city, I don't see how the state government have any alternative other than to move it out of Shah Alam)
3) They fear that the crime rate in their area would rise if the temple was built there (because a temple is not a place of worship and I can't be sure, but they're trying to say temples also houses criminals?)

Well then, let the temple stay where it is now.

Ah you see, the relocation was proposed because the residents of Section 19 claimed that the temple was not in the brochure when the housing project was launched, so they want it moved. It's quite ironic really when you look at the history of the temple. It was a place of worship for early Indian estate workers, and has been around for 150 years. The temple existed BEFORE the housing estate and they're making the temple that existed before them move away.

Now, there are talks that this is the doing of a certain political party, whose leader is passionately preaching 1Malaysia to air, in their misguided aim to discredit the administration of the state government. I laud them for being on the right track coz all we're waiting for is a repeat of the March elections, but on a bigger scale. To this I say thank you.

I'm glad the AG is supposedly charging those cow head protestors. I was under the impression that those people will go scott-free because you know, seeing it has been more than a week since the horde of Malay protestors took to the streets and an arrest has yet to be made, while 16 non-Malay people holding a peaceful candlelight vigil at Dataran Merdeka has been nabbed for illegal assembly. Just saying.

happy birthday to me

I wanted a big bang of a party, to celebrate this milestone (it's 30 if you're wondering). In fact, I have a cute little watering hole in mind and a short list of the people I would invite. I even controlled my spending in the past few months so that I would have the budget for it!

Alas.... I'm now in faraway Shishi. Try and figure out which continent I'm on.

Kapalai-Mabul-Sipadan 2009

Took off last week for what will be my last dive trip for the year. I got so tanned my foundation powder is at least 2 tones too light for me now.

But it was so worth it.


Frogfish, the cutest little sea creature ever. Everytime I see one I feel like giving it a pinch on its cheeks ^___^


Emperor Angelfish. This is a big one, almost half a metre I suspect. I think he was trying to sleep when I pointed the camera in his face, hehe.


Chromodoris, a type of nudibranch. I really like the colours on this one.


Gold spec jawfish. We wanted to get one with its mouth open but we'd most likely run out of air before that happens. The male would carry the eggs in his mouth until they hatch.


Hypselodoris bullockii, Another type of nudibranch. Looks really beautiful when it "stands".


Saddled toby. Cute buggers but hard to photograph. I noticed they're always eating away.


Halgerda. So cute, ain't it? Saw so many types of nudibranch. I like photographing them coz they don't move that fast ^___^


Sleeping Green Turtle... zzzzz.... Saw several more during my Sipadan dives. They're so beautiful.


Clown Anemonefish, or as I like to call it, Nemo-fish! Awefully shy and kept hiding in the anemone.


Seastar


Jackfish swimming in a school at Barracuda Point. Just ahead of them we saw a school of Chevron Barracudas and chased after them. Barracudas tend to sometimes swim in a circle, thereby creating the infamous vortex. Makes a really awesome picture! However, the school we saw did not create a tight enough vortex but it was still amazing all the same watching its massiveness.

A green turtle with a Batfish as companion swam by above me. Such graceful and gentle creatures. I can't imagine how people could kill them for their meat and harvest their eggs.





The Sipadan Kapalai Dive Resort, built on stilts on the shallow sandbanks of the Ligitan Reefs. The water chalets are standalone units and more than comfy. Bring your own toiletries as they only provide Lux soapbar. The chalet's balcony oversee the open sea and we enjoyed many a cool afternoon breeze and starry night there.

The resort is right in the middle of the ocean and the house reef is a better dive site than a lot of the east coast islands. As all dive resorts, it's full board and all about eat dive and sleep. If you don't snorkel or dive, there's pretty much nothing you can do, except chill. Or eat. Restaurant serves up some really good calamari!

Oh, on our first night there, it rained buckets and the wind was so strong. The windows and doors were slamming and every time the wind blew and the waves crashed against the stilts, the whole chalet trembled! At one point I wondered whether we would be washed away, hehe. Sleepless night that.

All in all, I really love love love the trip and Sipadan is so beautiful. I will definitely go back there again. Until then, I will harry my baby to take up diving so he can go back with me ^___^

Matthew Williamson for H&M

If that wasn't obvious enough, then Matthew Williamson's coming to H&M!!

Basically, that means a holiday to Hong Kong is in order :)



I've been looking for long maxi dresses and his hand painted maxi is just so gorgeous. Wonder if I could make one myself?

one step forward, two steps back

IT IS BAHASA AGAIN BUT MORE EMPHASIS WILL BE PLACED ON LEARNING ENGLISH

PUTRAJAYA: The Government has decided to reverse the Teaching of Mathematics and Science in English policy and revert to Bahasa Malaysia in national schools and Chinese and Tamil in vernacular schools.

We're moving backwards and I think it's stupid.

More emphasis would also be placed on English, including the hiring of retired teachers, assistant teachers for bigger classes and having additional periods.

This is all very good for the English language in general, but how often do we use "isosceles triangle" or "dichotomy" in an everyday sentence? How is this going to facilitate the learning of Science or Mathematics in an international environment?

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said this meant that from 2012, students in Years One and Four and Forms One and Four in national primary and secondary schools would study the two subjects in Bahasa Malaysia while those in vernacular schools would be taught in their mother tongue (Chinese and Tamil).

“We want to have a ‘soft landing’ which is why we will begin only in 2012. This will allow us time to make the necessary preparations,” he told a press conference at the ministry when announcing the reversal of the ETeMS policy or better known by its Malay acronym, PPSMI.

Asked why the ministry was not starting with a new cohort of Year One students, Muhyiddin who is Education Minister, said there was time to fine-tune the policy.

“There is still two-and-a-half years to prepare.

“Some members of the Cabinet made an observation that those in Form Four may be affected but that’s okay because we can still make changes so they continue their studies in two languages,” he said.

What's the hurry? The Form Four students are less than 2 years to SPM. Why make them study in 2 languages? Will the examinations be in Bahasa??

Muhyiddin said the ministry would do “whatever we can to make it as soft as possible for these students.”

“This is why the ministry is staggering the changes that will happen.

“It was quite sudden when the PPSMI was introduced previously,” he said.

The PPSMI policy was implemented in phases, beginning with Year One, Form One and Lower Six students in 2003, under former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s tenure.

The first cohort who completed six years of primary schooling and studied the two subjects in English received their Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) results last year.

Muhyiddin said that to ensure the implementation of the new policy did not affect the first batch (who started studying the two subjects in English in primary school in 2003), they would continue to study Mathematics and Science bilingually (in English and Bahasa Malaysia) until 2014.

He stressed that the reason for the reversal in policy was due to objective considerations and not political ones.

“It was based on empirical studies and other specialist reviews,” he said.

Based on studies conducted in 2008, he said, the ministry found that only a small percentage of teachers fully used English to teach the two subjects.

“On average, the percentage of those using English during Mathematics and Science periods was around 53% to 58%,” he said, adding that only a small number of teachers were proficient.

What he's basically saying is, our teachers are not qualified to teach in English. They can't speak English and therefore they can't teach in English. So, train better teachers! It's not fair that the teachers' shortcomings led to deprive the students of learning the Science and Mathematics subject in English. The faults of the elder led to the damning of the next generation?

Muhyiddin said studies carried out by local universities found that students’ mastery level of English during the entire policy was around 3% while the level among rural students was low.

“Based on these observations, the Government is confident that Mathematics and Science should be taught in languages understood by students, which is Bahasa Malaysia in national schools, and Chinese and Tamil in the respective vernacular schools,” he said.

Again, this is not about the English language. This is about scientific and mathematical terminologies. Please get this straight in that thick skull of yours. You can read novels after novels to improve English, but it won't improve the mastery of scientific and mathematical terminologies.

On whether the decision goes against Dr Mahathir’s vision, Muhyiddin said he and senior ministry officials had a three-hour meeting explaining the problems faced by those involved.

And exactly whose interests are involved? Have you consulted the public before making such a decision? Do these senior officials send their kids to public schools, or are they more lucky than most of us?


- THE STAR

there will never be another you

R.I.P.
Michael Joseph Jackson
August 29, 1958 - June 25, 2009


You rocked my world.

breakfast by dad

I tapau breakfast from home, usually two slices of bread. Sometimes my dad will pack it for me, like today.

The sandwich filling for today is bananas with cheese.

This will take some getting used to...

strange behaviours

This week, my building management decided to step up on security. The guards actually asked to see IDs instead of just glancing at you and make a lightning fast judgement on whether you're a threat to the society. The guards are also not the usual few who I already know. They looked foreign, from Myanmar maybe.

Yesterday, the new guard stopped an aunty-like lady, asking to see her ID before she proceed to the elevators.

Guard: ID please.

Aunty: (mumbles something).... new.

Guard: (thinking that she's a new staff) Please sign in if you don't have ID.

Aunty: No. You're new. You don't know my face.

And with the air of an insulted lady, Aunty just walked off and left the guard baffled.

Today, another episode...

Guard: ID please.

Loud Man: (face turned blacker than black, thundered loudly) Where's your ID???

Guard: (dumbfounded)

Loud Man: You don't have ID, how can you ask for mine??

Guard: (dumbfounded)

And with that, Rude Man just walked off.

And so one fine day, when some ajaran sesat/boh liao people decides to bomb my building, Aunty and Loud Man (if they survive) will unquestionably be amongst those people complaining about "How can this happen?" and "The management did not do their job in maintaining security to the building".

I have to ask them this: Can die meh show ID?

i *heart* Legos

Found some Lego keyrings from Brickboy Brothers @ Tropicana City Mall.

Happiness! :O)

flowers from my baby

Just because.

here we go aclimbing again: d minus 2

THE MESILAU TRAIL
I learned about this alternative route way back when I first attempted Mt K. The boys of the group chatted up this bunch of UK Babes (because they were studying in the UK and were climbing in unthinkable warm factor eschewing spaghetti strap tops and shorts) who did this trail. Although in awe at their gungho-ness, I thought we were pretty clever we took the shorter Summit Trail. After 6 hours of heaving our butts all the way up to the Laban Rata Resthouse, I can't imagine taking one more step and a longer route is, basically, a suicide job.

Who knew I would walk down this path one day...

OK, let me explain why. The Mesilau Nature Resort to the peak (Low's Peak) is about 2 km longer compared to the Summit Trail, making it a total distance of about 10.5 km. But the Mesilau Trail is less steep and offers a more scenic climb that will hopefully distract me from my sufferings. The Summit Trail, though shorter, is an up-up-up hike, not unlike climbing a staircase with giant steps. For me with the creaky knees and what other age-related ailments, this route makes more sense.

In short, we like Mesilau Trail because:-

1) More scenery = more photo opportunities = happiness
2) Try something new this round
3) Not so punishing

But when my friend who went on the Mesilau Trail recently told me he took 10 hours to get to Laban Rata Resthouse, it started to sound not so appealing at all. I mean, imagine: Me sitting in front of the computer 12 hours a day, sleep 6 hours, eat 2 hours, drive 2 hours, and miscellanous activities for the remaining 2 hours. Then, like a kink in the nice straight line, whisk me away from my everydayness and throw me into the jungle and expect me to survive for 10 hours. Reeeeally now...

I dunno why I sound so collected as I sit here and type this.... COZ I'M NOT!

This whole situation is crazy and I'm crazy for going along on the ride.

Shite.... is an understatement.

I do this everytime before I climb something, don't I?

here we go aclimbing again: d minus 4

Last time, I lugged almost 6 kg up the mountain and down. I actually brought along stuff like shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, three shirts, pajamas and almost 2 litres of water. So stupid. Most of the stuff ended up being wasted effort because it was too cold to shower, I didn't want to change into cold clothes and there's water stops along the way.

WHAT TO PACK


1. Climbing shoes. Not running shoes or walking shoes because they get slippery in wet weather. This round I'm opting for this pair of Kampung Adidas as they call it. It's fully rubber and black and not pretty and cost me only RM5.90. My friend swears by it.

2. A spare pair of socks. In case it rains.
3. A change of clothes. DO NOT WEAR COTTON. Cotton will get damp from the sweat and doesn't dry off as fast. Opt for dri-fit material instead.

4. Good windbreaker. A windbreaker only protects you from the wind, not the chill. Optionally, you may get an inner fleece layer for protection against the cold. Wear layers with the windbreaker.

5. Headlamp. Not torchlight, because the last leg of the climb to Low's Peak is done in complete darkness and involves a rope.
6. Spare batteries for headlamps. You wouldn't believe how quickly the batteries would run out in cold weather.

7. Gloves. For general protection against the chill and would come in handy at the rope section. Otherwise, optional.

8. Beanie. Most of our body heat escapes from our head.

9. Poncho. In case it rains.

10. Small towel to wipe down.
11. Some energy bars / chocolates.
12. Water. Bring about one litre and fill up along the way.

13. Hand warmers. It's a small pouch of stuff that activates when come in contact with air. You shake it and wait for it to warm up, then chuck it in your pocket or something. It heats up to 52-62 degree Celsius so it's pretty hot. You can get this product from most outdoor equipment suppliers.

14. Sandals. Sturdy ones, like Teva. When you descend, your toes will hit on the front of your shoes and some people will find this painful. So, wearing sandals would solve this problem. Having said that, having short toe nails would definitely help so cut your toe nails before you go. Otherwise, optional.

15. Counterpain. Need I say more?

here we go aclimbing again: d minus 27

10 1/2 flight o' stairs, time 3:15.

Somehow in my head, walking up to level 15 cannot be that difficult.

Then I gave up at level 6, haha. First day only, not too bad an effort la. Next week I shall attempt a bit more until I walk ALL the way up!

here we go aclimbing again: d minus 37

So the plan is to seriously get myself reasonably fit before we go aclimbing again. For the state that I'm in now, I'm no better than a potato on a couch.

TRAINING PROGRAM

Because I have weak knees and there's nothing much I can do about it, the aim is to strengthen other parts of my leg muscles, such as the quadriceps, hamstrings and the calves, to compensate for it. These are simple exercises that I can do at home.

Here's a link to an article on weak knees and the recommended exercises: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0KGB/is_4_5/ai_n6033426/

Just strong legs are not enough. I also need to have certain endurance to last the whole trek. We're talking about 8-10 hrs of walking y'know. So with this in mind, I've settled on interval training on weekends and if I have the energy for it, certain weekdays too. Generally, interval training involve repetitious periods of high intensity workout followed by periods of rest/low activity. This training program is used to start off long distance runners but also good for people like me who's adverse to stressing the knees too much.

And to demonstrate how serious I am about this whole climb Mt K for the last time ever, I plan to walk the staircase from the basement parking all the way up to my office on level 15. And maybe walk down. Twice a day. Next month onwards. Must mentally prepare myself first bah.

astro dog

This is what happens to anjing yang tak dengar cakap.

Looking downright depressed

Poor boy's been biting and chewing off bits of the velvety pad on his front paw, causing him to limp slightly when walking. The vet said he's allergic to something, which she cannot pinpoint but it could be his food, floor cleaning agent, fresh paint or dusty carpet.