TOUCHED BY ANGELS

I hurt my back during my recent trip at the white water rafting.Refer my posting here.

Just to express by gratitute to some of my friends who were very concern about me.Some even help massage my aching back. One even called me the next day to ask how I was doing. I am so touched.

Angie photo credit:Gerald chuah

sook yee photo credit:Heiza zainal

Ivy photo credit:Budget travellers

snow,my lovely daughter

These are the Angels worthy of my praises..Thanks Angels A big round of applause to them.

DID I MADE A MISTAKE?

Just returned from a 2 day 1 night adventures at Ipoh and Gopeng.The trip was organised by

budget travellers.

We arrived at the theme park “The lost world of Tambun” at sunway city , Ipoh.

It's been quite a while maybe more that 8 years or so that I had gone into a theme park.

We spilt into two group, one who  wanted to go for rock climbing known as the Needle of Tambun. I stayed with the other group  who opted for the wet park. We walk around the petty zoo. Lots of nice birds and other animals. The high light  was of course where we witness how they fed the tiger. Next we went for some rides.The pirate which is a giant ship that rock forward and backward and gets higher in the process. As usual there was lots of screaming. I just sat through the ride without any reaction. Maybe I did not enjoy it or had too much to think.? There was lots of game stall, but did not bother to try any of those since it involved paying. The other ride was under service and so we went to the CliffRacer where you will slide straight down at great  momentum. Though it's just a few seconds , the thrill was simply enjoyable.
They also have a quad multi angle tube called the TubeRider where you get to experience all the breath taking turns at great speed. Seeing all my friends having so much fun I wanted to try too.

It was quite a while before I pucked enough courage to the ride down the water slide. I remember I took the big splash at Mimaland before it closed down. Compare to that this was not that scary. 

Tiger swiming at Tiger valley

Next we dipped ourselves in the various hot spring spa until the other team meet up after their event.

When they arrived they too wanted to go into the hot spring and enjoyed some ride, so we to waited it out. By the time they finish it was areadly 7.00pm and every body was hungry and so after a quick shower, we headed for Ipoh town for dinner.

That was day one.

Day two was the reason most of us sign up for the trip.We got up at 7.30am washed up and headed for the famous curry mee which was recommended by one of the members to have our breakfast.After that we walk around  to shop a bit for food .We had lunch on  our way to MyGopeng resort We arrived at around 1.30pm. There to receive us was the outdoor instructor Mr Yusoff,whom I understand was a former commando.After a briefing and instruction son how to handle our equipments  and what to do during the ride down the rapid. We were divided into team of 5 .Everyone was told to pick their life jacket and helmet. And each team was to carry their raft to the river mouth.Theb came the surprise part we were to glide ourself down to where the raft was moored. I waited for a while to see how everyone does it, and it seems easy so I stand next in line . Got into the water and was carried away by the gushing water.The water current was very strong and I was pushed against a rock and ouch .it was so painful. There was no broken bones, but it sure broke my spirit. Not only that I swallow quite a mouthful of water. Almost went down then I saw the line which I quickly grapped and was pulled safely to shore. I was debating whether to carry on or to back out, but then there will be one man short, so for the sake of the team I braved on. Got on our raft and went to some hell experience down stream. We listen to every word of the command given out attentively,because whether raft will remain afloat or capzised depend on following them.

We had to row forward, backward and stop when necessary and at certain point to hold on tight to the rope at the side of the raft as it was trusted downstream by strong current. I felled overboard once,

thank God my team members was able to pull me aboard. So again, row, row the raft gently(more like rough ly) down the stream. All the while I was praying when will we stop , I mean to reach our final destination. 7 km and 1.5 hours later we reached the end of the ride. What a relief!

Waiting for us was a lorry to fetched us to the campsite. We joked how we looked like refugees being sent to a detention camp. Quickly got shower and changed and make our way home.

Stoped at Bidor for dinner. Got home around 11.00pm with my back still hurting.
 I swear never again will I get myself into a situation like this ever again. Once is enough. Lesson learnt the hard way. One thing for sure I am not getting any younger. Did I make a mistake to go on this trip? Maybe but then again maybe not. At least I can  say I did it and further more I had the company of my God daughter and we had quality time together and that is priceless.

 

Pirate boat ride. photo credit:Gerald chuah

 

with my Goddaughter

WASTE NOT, WANT NOT.

In today's star it was reported Malaysian is throwing away up to 930 tonnes of food daily. It is just shocking that we are wasting our food, when so many people in certain parts of the world go to bed with an empty stomach.   I am not saying we cannot indulge or reward ourselves once in a while with good food,but rather we should order what we can eat . I have seen some people ordering like that is no tomorrow and then a lot of left over because they could not finish their food.  I have no problem to 'ta pau" back what I can't finish . Even when I cook  it is just enough no left over, but if there are any I will keep them in the fridge and eat them the next day.  I just hope malaysian will learnt how not to waste food.


This is appear in today's star.



KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians can afford to eat less because they are either overeating or wasting food, throwing away up to 930 tonnes of unconsumed food daily, say experts.
This is equivalent to us throwing away 93,000 10kg bags of rice each day.
The experts warn that people must change or adapt their eating habits in the light of rising prices and a looming food shortage, adding that the country was already experiencing a food crisis.
Universiti Malaya Prof Dr P. Agamuthu said wastage was a growing trend, adding that almost 50% of the 31,000 tonnes of waste produced daily by Malaysians comprised organic kitchen waste such as leftover food.
“Malaysians discard about 930 tonnes of unconsumed food daily. Wastage of unconsumed food alone in Malaysia has doubled over the past three years. This does not even include leftover food,” he said, adding that the unconsumed food mostly consisted of expired bread, eggs and old or rotten fruit.
Full report here.

Please Help Vote for my Friend Edward chew

Edward Chew's Tetra Pak Origami Lamps

 To all my Friends out there

 This is my friend's entry  to an international lighting design competition  which has been selected as one of the finalists in the competition. He need more votes from fellow M'sians. Please go to "http://inhabitat.com/bright-ideas-competition/edward-chews-tetra-pak-origami-lamps" and click on the blue banner that says, "Vote For This Design", and also please help me spread the words.


 Muchas gracias, Arigato, thankyou,谢谢, Terima Kasih! ,Khob khun krap


Best of luck to you Ed. Hope you will win.

WHEN WILL IT END??

Just when you thought you got a good buy, the latest gadget and you are trying to learn how to use it, you got  news the latest one is even faster and better!

That was what happen to me. I just switched to a Mac and one week later they announce with the new
Macbook which is faster.    !!  Really feel like banging head on the wall.   Have you ever have such moments??


And this is coming out in July. Of course have to pay for upgrade. It's all about $$$ and we the consumer are the losers.

                                           More info here


    This of course is for the Iphone and mac too. Read it all here

Conclusion?   Never be a sucker for technology . It never ends!

Having fun at Pelepah falls, Kota Tinggi.

This is the first hiking trip under the southern hiker group. Of course I was excited. We were suppose to meet up at the Kota tinggi water fall at the entrance parking lot at 8.30.am when we got there we saw a group of people and thought it was our gang, but on checking found out it was the malaysian nature society johor group doing their bit to clean up the river. We waited for a while , then a few cars drove in. we waited for a few minutes and as the other group still have not shown up we deceived we should proceed on our own. This is another rule of the hikers if you are late you will be left behind. We have to cross some stream and at certain places up to wait high. I just hate getting wet. We reached the first tier and took some photos before continuing our climb, then it started to rain, but the rain did not dampen our spirit and we continue climbing even though it was rather

difficult under this condition. Thank God no untoward incident happen. I have been to so many water fall and yet to go in for a dip. Maybe soon.?

Anyway here are some photos on my trip yesterday
I did know there are so many mountains in Johor.  Next on my list is Gunung Panti standing at 1684 feet above sea level, Gunung Belumut at 3314 feet.
Gunung Panti is somewhere near Pelepah falls which I went yesterday.
Here are some of the shots I manage to capture.More photos here.

the Malaysian Nature society, Johore registration counter.

some of our team members

a giant mushroom

HOW ARE YOU FEELING SWEETHEART?

While browsing on FB yesterday I saw on  my son's status where my wife mentioned she had twisted her ankle again on the same leg. She first twisted her ankle last year while shopping in town and she missed a step and had to be inmobile for quite a while. This time she had gone to UK with her girl friend and this thing had to happen. Hope she is ok. Wonder why she did not mention this to me? For fear that I might be worried? Of course I am worried. I felt so helpless now as I am not there with you. I won't make any empty promises like this poem

“ I will climb the highest mountain, crossed the deepest ocean

just to be with you    (if it does not rain tonight”)

Instead I will just say if the Lord enable I will be with you dear or better yet as olivia newton john says in her song here:-

Can't wait for the days to pass by  quickly when you will be back soon. I will see you in two weeks time.