Mixed Crumbs

Ever since the climbing gym in Summit closed, I have not been climbing as much as I would like to. Especially on weekdays. I have been to Camp5 to climb but it’s just not the same to me. It may have a bouldering cave envy of many, indoor lead climbs that kicks ass or showering bath that washes you away literally (I really love to bath in Camp5) alas something is still missing. Like an absent molar on my lower jaw where my tongue keeps flicking and rubbing, against my gums and the two tooth standing guard over a gaping hole. I miss my Summit Climbing Gym. Have not been climbing much outdoors too. None at all, truth be told. Well my schedule on Sunday has gone through some changes and that is also a reason why I am considering climbing on Saturdays.

Anyway running has taken over for now. To make sure I spend more time on my feet I have joined Mizuno Wave Run that will be flagging off on the 19th October 2008. It’s a 10km run. My second 10km event. My first was in 28th August 2005. It was a feat for me to be able to finish it. I blogged about this in my first blog in Xanga. I even got myself a hamper from a luckydraw then.


So far I have only managed to do a 7.5km run around my area. 2 plus more weeks to go before the event, my friends seems to be quite excited about it. I suspect my spike in jogging around might be related to the purchase of a new pair of running shoes. Haha. And another reason I joined the run was because by paying Rm35 in exchange for a running vest worth RM53.90 and a chance to get a shoe bag seems to be a good deal.

The same goes for the IOI Community Run in November. That is about 7.3km. Another Tshirt for RM15.
For details about this : IOI Community Run

Any of you joining? We can meet there and run ya. Do leave a message here if you do.
I forgot to mention that both of these event, it was girls who asked me to join. My guy friends all sigh… *shake head* One was my housemate SY and the other is JC.

So Ms. Rose has spoken and a few before her too… my uncle and some silent readers.
Updates ya… I seem to talk about my climbs and not much about others lately. I have materials that I want to post about reusable shopping bags that I would like to purchase probably this month.

For now, it would still be climbing related. 4-5 posts related to climbing… is it irking any of you yet? It sure does make me smile if a frown appears between your brow and you bellowing, Oh no not again… not another crappy climb story that I don’t understand! Any of you? Please grace me with your frustration towards my posts. No? None… then here comes another.

Got confirmation that the Summit Roxx will be held on Sunday August 10th… an annual indoor rock climbing competition that I would participate… with a few things in mind. To gauge whether I have improved my climbing, get to climb with a big group of friends or would be friends and also making a fool of myself under the needle stares of the public. I could still feel the flutters of butterflies in my stomach when I first joined the competition. I roped along ML… who recently got married, congratulations again… and we called our team SlowMo, it was a MSN nick I used a few years back. Short of slow motion and I am proud to say that we live up to our name. ML has vowed to never again participate. Though, I do think that she did pretty well… gritting her teeth and trying as hard as she could to complete her routes. It was a mixed team event. Nice…

On the other hand, I shall disclose one little tiny weeny detail. Because that we had to be in the complex very early to register and for briefing of the competition, the toilets were not open. And I have this condition/disease/infection that happens everytime without fail. After the butterflies mighty flapping has died down, my bowels seems to get extra hardworking. The nervousness that had built up in my throat and stomach has now decided to head down south. I feel like taking a bloody dump… either a dump or let the trouser snake spits its venom. I frantically searched high and low for an available washroom. And the horror that strikes me… none was available. All was padlocked. The event was about to start. I ushered ML along and assured her I will join her in a moment. Among the chaos, I managed to slip away… into the much abandoned staircase area. Went up a floor and found those large green dumping containers and I let it rip. Stopped once to check for footsteps. This is where I stained my pants a little. Lucky the material dries up fast. That is my first time and hopefully my last. Hey, I was desperate all right… and I forgot whose hand I shook right after my business.

The coming competition would be my third one and hope that I would do better than the year before. But most of all, is that I have loads of fun. One more month to go and it’s time to do some training. I have been doing so in the park opposite of my house when I felt like it. And also doing some harder climbs in the gym or outdoor. My haste has caused me considerable pain since Monday night… I did not do a proper warm up on my neck and shoulder area… and I think I have hurt the nerves connecting to my head… it hurts like a bitch headache if I tried doing chin ups. The agony. I feel it even if I don’t do chin ups. It comes and goes when least expected. Have to lay off for a while.

I am planning to redpoint a 6B climb on Nanyang wall in Batu Caves. The route is called Indecision. That’s my current project. Will look for a few more 6B routes to try. That’s my current standard. And crap… thinking about the route has got my palms all sweaty again. It’s the little dose of adrenalin that shots through my arteries when images of climbing flashes on by. Have you got your shots of adrenalin today?

Aaa… I can hear the echoes of ale ale in the distant. Sweet.

Just a post to remind me of my first big fall. My first fall means falling far down when climbing. Lead climbing. Fell 4 bolts. About 8 meters while 20 meters above solid ground. No I was not scared. I felt nothing. No fear. Nah, this does not mean that I am a daredevil or crazy it’s just might be the fact that I had no time for fear to sink in and tie a knot in my gut. I was going to share a shall foothold while caressing the limestone for a hold when all of the sudden,… zip… F… A… L… L…………. no one was expecting it to happen, they were all chatting below and my belayer was not aware too and gave quite an amount of slack. That was because I just clipped the second last bolt and trying to feel for a nice hold… a side pull and a sloper while changing feet… searching for a good foothold. It was a clean fall… and I remembered kicking the wall once before landing nicely with balls intact. I was actually happy for that fall and no shivers or trembles at all. I smiled waved and showed a good sign to the people below before having my daisy chain hooked on for safety. Everyone laughed. Belayer said sorry. I said don’t sweat it and don’t worry. It was a good fall and I feel liberated. I was no longer the boy who had never fell. Haha… shit. That sound’s wrong to my own ears now.

Location : White Wall, Batu Caves
Route : Kick A Cloud
Belayer : Nas
Witness : Ah Hon, Sherry, Adrian, Thomas and Sunny.

And I celebrated it with having a good time. The first was down the drain. My stupid look says it for me and I admitted that I had no idea. Took a deeper one next. Finish it with another short catch of breath. Keep it in. 1…2…3…4…5… Exhale. Aaa… c’est bonne La

Early dinner… think I am going to have packet of instant noodles. Am tired and hungry.

Bonne nuit. Pop gun my kap.

This is definitely a very different concept of playground to have around our neighborhood. Which I deem impossible, with all the numbers of vandals present. Everything would be gone.

Anyway that aside, am here to show you the Mobius® Climber, one of the product conceived by Landscape Structures. As the name implies, it has a lot do with climbing, yet again. Hyper kids would enjoy themselves on these. Before anyone says “So dangerous”, I beg to differ. Don’t be overprotective, for this case. I don’t think falling and knocking and getting scrapes and burns will leave a huge physical or psychological scar on them, kids. It’s part of growing up. Younger years spending running around, wading in thigh deep deserted lake, going into rubber estates and oil palm estates, abandoned fields or climbing and jumping off waterfalls and slides have proven to be a fun experience for me. Sad that I can’t climb trees, jump into rivers or any other things with my friends like my dad and his friends did. But I do think I am still doing better than kids who spend hours in front of video games and computers refusing to budge and get some evening sun. Am wishing that I could get my daily dose of evening sun… for when we get off work it would be 630pm.

Ain’t it cool.

12-Panel and a 7-Panel

6-Panel and 3-Panel

Here’s what Landscape Structures have to say for themselves.

A wonderfully wavy way to set your playground apart

There’s nothing else quite like our wonderfully wavy Mobius® climbers. Kids love climbing up, down, over and under as they test their strength and agility, and invent limitness new games. And our artful, anodized aluminum panels bring a unique asthestic to any play area. Easy to install and virtually maintenance free, there’s squiggly configuration options to fit every site and age group.

Mobius handholds are easy to grip at all angles for added safety

The Mobius climber is so much fun, we couldn’t design just one. We offer four models to fit your budget and site: three-panel, six-panel (shown left), seven-panel and an eye-popping twelve-panel that will amaze adults and kids alike. These climbers provide a wide variety for everyone!

This exciting new climber celebrates the art of play. It helps kids:
• Build gross motor skills
• Build upper-body strength
• Increase hand-eye coordination
• Improve balance
• Develop thinking skills
• Give their imagination a workout

Sweet.

Check out their website and you will find many other playground system and ideas.
Visit Landscape Structures

On one of my trips back home, the playground I spent many hours when I was a kid looks like a war field to me. It was the invasion of (illegal) immigrants. Huge groups. Playing the world’s famous game. Marbles. Haha… hell no… football la… what else. No blood was spilt. Just sweat and saliva. I don’t go there anymore.

This has got to be the single post with the most shots of me in it.
The poser. It’s great to be able to put my photoshop knowledge to good use.

Tonsai Beach.
Eat when you are hungry.
Sleep when you are tired.
Climb when you want to.
No one wears a watch here except one of our friend in our group. Duh.


Dead pufferfish. Did not dare go up close. Afraid that it will pop.
Grigri on me.

Grigri on table.




On our way for breakfast.

Watching JH climb. The one with the Le Petit Prince tattoo.

Top rope on Lion King

This should be Luke doing bouldering on the beach.
Silhouette of Grigri.

Third pitch. Waiting to going over to rappelling station.

View from third pitch.

Rappelling down… think it was about 60-70 meters
SC… familiar pose?

Mingling at Freedom Bar, Tonsai Beach.
Favorite pastime. Lie down and watch.



Taro is nice.

Home made ice cream. It has barley and some other nuts buried underneath.
Local breakfast. Very nice.

Marched to work on Monday while greeting those in sight with an uplifting mood. A week off to an island with beautiful sun, sand, sea and magnificent limestone formation littered with colorful people, swinging melodies, grubs that carve a curve and little mammals from lazy dogs to hyperactive squirrels, have this effect on me. Sorry that I drifted away.

*Rewind*

Yes… as I was taking the third last step through the glass door my receptionist stopped me. I think I saw a twinkle in her eyes. She heaved and quite effortlessly produced an oblong package handsomely double wrapped in white plastic. It took me a second to register the object placed before me. It’s the redemption gift. According to her, it had been waiting obediently for me since Wednesday… Wednesday afternoon… while I was away sweating in a harness doing a 6A+ climb, maybe. Enough of that. Am doing my detour from my post again. I think I need some extra weight to hold me down. So that roots can once again wrestles the loose earth beneath my feet and struggles to grapple anything to pull me back down… or at least keep me down.

Redemption gift. A nylon tent. A 2 men tent. A blue nylon 2 men tent. Was not expecting it to reach my office that soon. It had been only a week the most… according to the website it was due only in around 30-40 days… ha… could not care less… it’s finally here. I left it in the office yesterday night… I had to do some shopping after work so it was a bit crazy to waddle through racks of clothing and stationeries while lugging a bag and tent.
Finally brought it back just now and here are some mindless photos. Visuals.

The mess that came before a camp. I was having some trouble setting it up. This was the time I was looking for the manual. Where is the fucking manual when one needs it? Guess the picture on the carrier bag was worth a thousand words or the assumption that everyone who gets a tent knows how to set it up. The survival skill. The flakes of Rambo in me was trying to hide the laughter. I was a little frustrated figuring where the fibre poles are supposed to go. Finally I spread it flat on the floor and yeah… I can see where each of the skeletal frame should go. I started pitching at 9.50pm and completed it at 10.15pm. Not bad for my own standard. I half expected to complete it with disgust written on my face while droplets of water+ammonia+urea+ sugar+salt form above the brow. Bet I could do it faster the next time. Taking it down and packing it back was easy, just like folding my blanket, a thing I do every morning. Practice. Perfect.
Now, to wait for the weather to take a turn for the better. My last camping… if one could call it that, was back in primary school, on school compound, sleeping on stretcher beds along with 50 plus boys I think, while the girls get to use the classrooms. For me, getting a piss and dump outdoors is good. It beats having to haul your ass to the school toilet. The primary school toilet in the Standard One and Standard Two area creeps me out. Certain school toilets does that to me. They have that haunting feeling… I can still feel it if I dwell deep enough. I think I only did my big business in school toilets especially primary ones, less than 10 times. That’s what I can remember. Actually I can only remember only once. Yes, we went in pairs, sometimes even more than that and we usually ran back to join the crowds without looking back. The little girls back then always manage to flood the boys toilets with their tissues and pads. Guess they took the opportunity of camping to wreak havoc in the boys urinal territory. Tip toeing in for a piss still get your canvas shoes wet. Wonder if I ever heard Moaning Martyle giggling behind closed doors. Geez.

Alas, my RM50 voucher is missing. Have to give the credit card company a call again.

Doubt any of you, or most, noticed that I have been gone for a week. A full week off work. Oh… it feels so so nice. Went off to Thailand on a Sunday morning and got back on Friday afternoon. Though it’s only an hour and a half journey away but aaa… I feel so at home. Well, it was actually after 2 days before I felt right at home.

I was in Krabi. On an island where Railay and Tonsai beach are. Surrounded by magnificent formation of limestone with trees stretching out to the clouds. Gentle sea breeze with warm sunshine. Great local food paired with delicious fresh fruit juices for the day and cold smooth refreshing Singha at night. The feeling of waking up to the friendly Sa-wa-dee-kaap of locals and Hi-Hello’s of the foreigners are simply wonderful. Since it is low season now… the crowd is much smaller and recognizing faces are so much easier. After a day in Tonsai beach, we kind of know the people there. Which is the best place to eat, which stalls serves the best pancakes, where to see fireshow, where to get our daily fix of tuna melt and muesli with fresh fruits and yoghurt and even where to huddle together for some tv time while sharing drinks and a joint.

We wasted 2 nights on Railay beach… pardon me but I am a climber so Railay is a definite no no for me. It’s more of a tourist place. Where people go to have a sun tan, walk around on the beach ogling at female and male bodies alike, waiting for sunrise/sunset, wondering what to do after 2 days on the beach… hitting the bars with high hopes of meeting some other intellectual being… yeah I know. It’s their way of unwinding. But for us, climbers, our way of enjoying the views there are being at least 30-40 meters high up while clinging on to some stalactite. Climbing hard and celebrating it with cold beers and great music when the day is over. I am really amazed that they play a whale load of nice music. Really nice ones.

I missed it before I even left my footprints on the island. I missed Tonsai. Will continue when I find time. I got one week of work to catch up. Hoo hoo. Loads of photos to choose to post up. Expect some shameless semi nude ones.

Pop-gan-mai-kaap

Sorry people. No photo this time round as I forgot to bring my camera. Might be able to grab some from friends later. Before I went for it, I did a search on Gunung Kutu and was not able to view much pictures. Having been there myself yesterday, I fully understood why this was so.

Woke up at 5am in the morning and left the house at 530am. Had a smooth drive (obviously, duh) and dear managed to grab a hash brown and a cup of orange juice at McDonald’s drive-thru. Met up with the rest of them and off we went. My tummy was not feeling too well. At times during the hike, I thought that it would sneak out. Mind over matter. Suck it back in… umm umm umm

Here is my experience.
Gunung Kutu is in Kuala Kubu Baru, under the Selangor state. Quite a distance from KL or PJ. Passing through Rawang, and nearing the area, we saw a dam. It’s a very nice view. Period. Cut through some , I believe to be, modern Orang Asli settlements and did some stretching and relieving ourselves in the woods.
We started our journey excitedly as always crossing streams and hanging bridges. Once we waddled across a river, everyone got into their full hiking gear. I just put on a pair of clean socks and my RM7 rubber shoes. On hearing there were to be leeches, everyone perked up and allowed anxiety to seep in. Most of the girls freaked. Deep down inside, I was afraid too although having experienced a leech bite once, I now realize it was not painful… it only looks horrendous + extra horrible to others. I rolled up my pants showing half my calf and sprinkled generously an amount of salt inside and on my socks. Less than 10 minutes into the hike, dear spotted the first leech. Shrieked and ran, putting all the others on red alert. From now on, most were walking with heads down. My neck muscles are feeling the strain even as I am relating this. Many more leeches greeted us on dead leaves and dark damp paths… camouflaging and blending themselves pretty well. That left no time for us to be stationary and taking in the view, if there was any. They were everywhere. As we marched on, the sound of the river faded and sunlight were turned down low. Soon we were buffeted by tall trees and thick vegetation. Gunung Kutu proved to be a tough hike with it’s steep, wet and leeches infested trail, personally. Definitely a first and last for me.

After 3 hours into the arduous journey, my calves started burning, a sensation that receives me every time I take on long hikes. The slippery and steep track was the cause of it and dear has voiced out her resentment for the place after just an hour plus of the hike. Am glad that she persevered and battled on despite the harsh condition. She even surprised me during the later part of the hike back. We stopped and rest many a times and there was a few times we lost sight of the people in front of us. It did not felt good though. Luckily, there were markings and signs on trees to show that we were on the right path. Had a good 15mins rest at a big sheltered boulder, where the other hiking group, there were only 2 groups that day, comprising mostly of girls were already having their luncheon… McD breakfast and bananas.

It took another hour before we reached the peak. Where not much of a view welcomed us. Nothing compared to Bukit Tabur. Rested our tired feet and gobbled a sandwich and water. I was not taking off my socks yet as I do not want to face the reality of being a leech meal. A comrade had already gone down, he was a walking buffet for 8 leeches. The thing is he wore sandals. No where for him to sprinkle salt or place tobacco. A fellow hiker asked nonchalantly whether he was involved in an accident. I chortled with laughter. The sight was really awful. Blood were spurting all over. I swore that I could hear indistinct sloshing of blood against the ground every time he walked. And I bet that if his sandals were in lighter color, his blood would have soaked and dyed it bright crimson red. This instilled more fear in our group.

Left the peak at 2pm and the three of us just sped down the trail. Going down was so much faster but I tried to restrain from pounding on my knees too much as I could feel a tingle of pain building up in my right knee. Should get a restrainer thing strapped on soon. As it was wet, many of us slipped and fell a few times. Gf being the champion here. When we came to the first stream, this is where the adrenaline gets the final pump. I was still in a daze when dear shifted into high gear and left the both of us eating dust. She practically sprinted her way out of the jungle. Had a hard time catching up because I was trying to muffle my laugh and the sight of her fast hop-skip-run style just made it unbelievable. She made it clear that she rather slipped and fall and get cuts and bruises than to be made a meal by the leeches. Could not believe my eyes. Out of the jungle in 2 hours and spent more than 30minutes soaking in the cold refreshing mountain water. Found a leech on me. Grind it up and spat on his/hers remain. Took a bath later in the river and changed into some fresh clothes. This was when I realized I left my clean shorts at home and I already soaked my pants. It was kind of J and B to allow me to ride in their car with only my boxers on. It was awkward. Shit. B even took a few snapshots for remembrance.

This hike brought me over and under a lot of bamboos. Saw different type of mushrooms springing up at every nook and cranny that I managed to steal a look. Had the opportunity to man-handle a dozen plus blood-sucking parasitic hermaphrodites that were trying to inch up. Bees swirling and attaching themselves on my wet t-shirt, slurping up my sweat. A group of beautiful and different butterflies playing and dancing around. The mosquitoes there are not very smart though. Very slow in reaction and easily killed. The air-borne predators paled in comparison to the parasitic infantry unit. The place has really big boulders but it was certainly not a place where I would recommend my climbing friends to go to… as the journey up takes 3 long strenuous hours and the rocks are mostly smoothed out. No cracks to even climb. Negative. Anyway if they insist of trying, you can bet that I won’t be hauling my ass there again. Although no leech had a taste of dear but their failure of inflicting physical wound on her however greatly managed to further project a more sinister image in her, which will be etched in so deeply that I think she now has developed bdellophobia.

Mmm… since I had got the ball rolling, thought might as well kill your bandwidth once and for all. Guess this would be the last of my hiking pictures for this year.
Went to Cameron Highlands last July for a hiking trip up Gunung Irau. I think it took about 6 hours to finish the whole thing. Up and down. The place is serene and very Lord of the Ring-ish. Personally, the pictures do no justice at all. The surroundings of ancient trees and green moss and strange insects and cool breeze… one has to be there to immerse in it to really understand.

Can you see the shoes that I am wearing? It was a pair of running shoes. Halfway through the hike the soles started coming off and by the end of it… there was practically nothing left. It reached it’s boiling point where I have to struggle to walk slowly and I think I did try holding it together with a rubber band but it snapped anyway. Brought it to the cobbler but he said there is no saving the bugger. Gone. No more running or jogging. That is why I searched high and low for the RM6.90 rubber shoes. Even my Crocs® would have survived the trek. Overall the hike up Gunung Irau was quite easy. It’s only a longer track. We were in between the borders of Perak and Pahang, if I am not mistaken.

I got no backbone. The grey one la.

Tongkat. Ali.












Still can fool around.

The place we bunked in. No need aircon or fan. It’s freaking cold. After brushing our teeth you can’t feel your gums at all.

There’s a playground. This is called Cheefoo.

Might be going for another round on the Bukit Tabur tomorrow morning at 7am. Yup, no need to worry. Won’t be posting any pictures of it. We would be going up from the rubber estate route instead.

More fresh air. Went up Bukit Tabur on a cloudy Christmas morning. Was late and met Eddie and Aaron at the foothill instead. Did not even warm up and off we went. Worried a little for Ms. GF because she was not used to outdoor stuff. Had her put on some sunscreen as advised by Ed too. Don’t want her to get burnt again. The weather was just right for hiking, with cool breeze in your face. Hike hike hike.

Oh yeah. Managed to get my hands on a pair of RM6.90 rubber shoes to replace my Crocs when I go hiking in the future. Searched for quite some time and finally found it. How happy I was. Mine was Cap Bowling. Ah Hon got his for RM3.90 which I was unable to find. Gf got a pair for herself too. It’s more like a football boots with rubber studs on the bottom. Do not underestimate them. A lot of hikers wear them as it has a good grip and waterproof… duh… Well, sometimes you step on wet grounds and if you are wearing “comfortable hiking boots” most probably it will take in water and weigh you down. And make your hike a lot more difficult. Another proven point is that these shoes do not have their soles glued or sewed on. So the chances of seeing it flipping and flapping is practically zero. Thrashing it is no problem at all. Don on a pair of socks and you are ready to roll.

After a 10 minutes hike you get this. A KL view.

Can I have some Snickers?




Bukit Tabur has a lot of rough crystals. Can you see them? They are not those high class opaque type that you see often.












Chilling out. Breathe in Breathe out.


Bowling bowling…


We stopped and surveyed the boulders here, as they wanted to have this as their project when we come to climb here next time. It was the raining season and I was not aware of the inhabitants lurking in the shades of damp dead vegetation.


My first leech bite. In my panic mode, I somehow sent the blood sucker flying. It did not hurt nor did it stop bleeding. Only I drew blood. Others were safe. They said using Baygon helps to keep them away. But Eddie did not manage to find any.
All in all we took about nearly three and the half hours to four I think. Had the Melawati Hainan Chicken Rice after. With extra rice of course.

Oh and drop by Save Taman Melawati Hill to learn about what the idiots/evil businessman are trying to do to the natural surroundings there. SaveTamanMelawatiHill or get involve in the signature campaign.
I did my small part of sending a message.