wall climbing & bouldering

dear emilyn...

what a day!...seriously!...phew!...did something completely out of the ordinary...something unusual for once...well kinda...met up with shanti n irvin...n we went to summit usj to do some wall climbing n bouldering...it's been 4 years since me n shanti did something like this at obs...

sorry we didn't call u but we knew u wouldn't b interested in this kinda stuff...we did call yinn yinn n shangari...but they couldn't make it...so it was just me, irvin n shanti...rather sporting of her though...she being the only girl...but then again...she's into stuff like this...so it wasn't really surprising...

we had a blast though!...after a quick n brief lecture n the safety procedures n all...just to jog back our memories since obs...like tying the figure of 8s...belaying n stuffs...we went to climbing immediately...we (well me n shanti) tried the 5b's n 5b+'s...all of them...seriously tired out...by the time i tried the 5c one...didn't have enough energy in my hands to pull myself up...seriously...there was a sense of helplessness where i just simply couldn't push myself up to the next footing...or even hold on to the footing to rest...so i just had to give it up...but that was almost to the end already...will keep that for another day...coz i'll definitely return

we tried traversing...along the walls horizontally...n bouldering...which was fun...coz u didn't need the uncomfortable harness...n it's n interesting route to climb...tried that like four or five times...coz u didn't need a belayer too...so we all did that...fun!

while climbing...we also rested...sat down...n chatted...caught up on each other...discussed philosophy...which was surprisingly interesting...n definitely something different for a change...a weird day of unusual-ness today...heh...

damn tired now...my hands don't ache though...yet...i'm pretty much sure they're gonna ache like hell tomorrow...they're just numb at the moment...lifeless...can't even lift up anything light...not to mention typing...tiring...but the thought of blogging it makes it bearable...i'm practically resting my wrists heavily on the keyboard...heh...damn...how ar?...i have work tomorrow...

haih...anywayz...i'm not complaining...i truly enjoyed myself for once...it's been a long time since i last had a workout like this one...n i'll truly go back there to work out like maybe once in a week...i have a climbing kaki now...heh...irvin...he's such a fanatic...n a pro at the same time though...so that's it i guess...really wanna rest...tomorrow's gonna b a long day...

cheers
k

lrt, starbucks n mamak

dear emilyn...

the one thing i'll definitely miss about malaysia...when i'm in the uk...will b its outdoor-ishness...let me explain myself...

1. i'll miss kl's outdoor rail transport system...in other words...kl's putra n star lrt s well s the monorail...the heat n dust from the open stations will definitely contrast the cold n dark subways of london...heh...but more than that...somehow or another...there's a difference between rubbing shoulders with malaysians n brits...take it from me...there's a sense of intimacy brushing each other with nothing but thin clothing in this hot n humid country...compared to a sense of detachment when jostling with the brits in their thick clothing...heh...u could get lost in their jungle of fur!...call me crazy but there's a sense of nostalgia with kl's lrt system...sniff*

2. i'll definitely miss outdoor coffee at starbucks...slurping ice blended chocolate on a warm night...under the moon n stars...while watching people pass by...heh...a favourite malaysian pastime...i know they have it there in the uk...but i'll only b doing that during the summer...can't imagine myself...freezing my butt of while slurping n ice blended chocolate in the cold windy winters of the uk...

3. n one thing i'll definitely miss in malaysia...will b its outdoor mamak stalls!...heh...having a variety of roti such s roti canai (roti kosong) or roti telur or roti planta...milo ice which could kill u with diabetes...maggi goreng which could cause a mycardial infarction with the amount of oil used...

but it's not just the food...but the hanging out part with friends after midnight...also under the stars n moon...but the chilling n talking n laughing...the noisy n loud atmosphere itself doesn't really help much at quelling the talking n laughing that'll normally ensue...expecially when a group of old friends get together to reminisce on the good old days...

can't really picture that in the uk...where shops normally close after what?...3 in the afternoon...during winter...later during the summer...6 in the evening?...well definitely no late night suppers...no late night supper means no late night gatherings...no late night gatherings would mean no laughing n talking...anywayz...i can't picture a group of us chilling in the cold british night at some outdoors cafe...we'll probably b too busy trying to warm ourselves up to even speak to each other...heh...maybe during the summer though...

hmm...but definitely going to miss malaysia...how about u?...u've been in aus for what?...3 years now?...how do u find it?...hope to hear from u soon...

cheers
k

literature: religion & imperialism

dear emilyn...

being surrounded all day by books...u get to do a lot of thinking...n what else can u think about...but: books!...heh...

but seriously...one thing i've thought about...n one thing i've come to realize is that...the main reason y a book...especially a work of literature...doesn't seem to capture a person's interest...is because the reader cannot relate to it...there's nothing to which the reader can associate himself with...

take me s n example of a reader...(although i'm rather illiterate...compared to some of my other contemporaries)...let's take two books that i've read s examples...n examine them...

first...i love the life of pi...y?...because religion has always been n idea that i've been in conflict with...it's philosophy has always plagued my mind...it's timeless questions have always haunted my dreams...even till this very day...so much so...that i've conceived my own perception of religion...

n yann martel has so exactly penned down these very same thoughts in her latest bestseller...(which won the 2002 man booker prize)...in addition to that...she also added some of her own opinions...of which i find myself drawn towards...although i do not agree with all of them...but c...there's a sense of connection there...where one soul touches another...this is what art is all about...

but take joseph conrad's heart of darkness...gosh...to me...it's the dullest book ever written by man...y is that?...well probably because i was not alive during the years of western imperialism...because i could not appreciate the ideals of that time...n because of this...it was of no value to me...

but the next thing one should ask is:...who's fault is it?...the writer or the reader?...i mean...think about it...don't they say that art is timeless...s in...the things that writers write about...appeal not just to those who live through their time...but for future generations too...right?...or wrong?...

is it the writers fault then for not conveying the message accurately enough to b able to move others...or to at least cause others to feel how he felt so much so till that he just had to write it down in a book...after all...isn't that what a writer is supposed to b doing?...

hmm...guess there's more thinking to b done obviously...so till nex time...take care n cheers...

k

politics n racism

dear emilyn...

can't write much this time...sorry bout that...friggin tired...jus got back from btn...biro tatanegara...it's a camp for gov scholars furthering their studies overseas...basically to instil patriotism (or so they say)...five whole days of non-stop lectures...eight hours a day...n only five hours of sleep each day...thank goodness for the outdoor activities...or i would've gone mad!...seriously...although only a few hours a day...the repelling n flying fox really helped in keeping my sanity...but overall...ok lar...probably due to the many friends i made there...learnt a lot there really...s well s gained a lot of experiences too...although i might missed out some stuffs here coz of my bad memory...here's what i can recall...

1. i still hate politics...y?...well coz once again...politics has reared its ugly head up again...which makes me wonder if i'll b able to run away from it...true...the camp did instil patriotism...what with learning our history n present situation...but the political agenda was so obvious...aren't gov officers supposed to b neutral regardless of which party is the ruling party?...to serve the people unreservedly?...yeesh...can't believe the gov used this camp to brainwash students...all just to make us support their party n vote for them in the upcoming elections...yeesh...dirty n corrupt...that's what politics truly is about...

2. people can truly b scum...seriously...i mean...how can two hp worth rm 2000 b stolen in a camp filled with gov scholars?...scholars who r supposed to b the creme of the country...future leaders of tomorrow...i mean...people also scrutinize leaders...saying: 'how can he/she have stolen the country's money?...well the answer is: 'look at our scholars today...those who will take over the administrations of the country in the near future'...scum...

3. racism is still present in our country...n i can't believe it's prevalent in the top notches of our country's government...i mean...what the hell is bumiputera n non-bumiputera suppose to mean?...aren't i born in this country too?...don't i love it s much if not more than 'bumis'?...no wonder mahathir was still worried about racial harmony...people just need to get past the malay, chinese n indian thing...n then everything will truly b s they should b...haih...there's so much this country still needs to learn...n that's what i'm gonna do when i come back...

anywayz..that's all i can remember for now...kinda random huh?...yeah well...just extracted them from my mind...for record's sake...anywayz...gtg...starting work tomorrow...to pay off the expenses i spent on my travels n the new mp3 player i bought...need to catch up on my much needed rest...or i'll b dozing off during work tmr...so take care n God bless...

ooh...malaysian idol's on...mmm...think i'll watch that...before catching up on my sleep...

later
k

malaysian tour review

dear emilyn...

this is already going to b quite a long post...check that...a very long post...so i'll cut it short...sorry for the delay though...

kelantan
1 june
arrived at kota bharu...azam n i...went around town with naim...chilled at kb mall in the afternoon...bummed at billion at night...bought loads of dvds...had a mini horror fest that night...watched shutter (damn scary) n the others (friggin good movie)...

2 june
went to lata tembakah...(which is really at besut, terengganu actually)...together with another two of naim's friends...first time bathing at a natural waterfall...water was friggin cold...flowing damn fast...clean n clear too...was very cool!...had tonnes of fun!...most enjoyable!...

3 june
went to pengkalan kubor...tax-free area...lots of shops selling a myriad of things at cheap prices...clothes n accessories n stuffs...didn't buy anything though...was saving money for the rest of my malaysian tour...left kb that night...all three of us...for alor star...

kedah
4 june
arrived at alor star...headed straight for adlan's kampung in baling...attended his cousin's wedding ceremony...my first traditional malay wedding...helped out with distributing the food...gotong-royong style...a very interesting insight into their way of life...second time i ate with my hands on this trip...

that night went to ulu legong hot spring...water was seriously friggin hot...hmm...about 40 to 50 degrees celsius...but only a matter of getting used to...even so...the whole place was steaming...if not for the crowd of people even at one in the morning...it would've been spooky...didn't know malaysia had such a place...

5 june
went bathing at lata bayu...heh...second time bathing in a natural waterfall...n on this very same trip too...we headed right to the very top...where there were no people n the water was cold, fast n clear...smashing really!...had a truly enjoyable time with the guys...after that...headed back to alor star...

that night...went bowling at city plaza...which i totally suck at...majorly...compared to naim n adlan...who were obviously the pros...s well s azam too...who was so obviously hiding his real talent...heh...but was fun though...

6 june
took it easy already...friggin tired after all that travelling...so we hung out at star parade...same old...heh...bought dvds n some cds...seems that piracy runs rampant at the northern n eastern states...so basically went shopping...managed to lay my hands on butterfly effect...damn friggin good movie!...seriously!...

7 june
went to the alor star tower...not that tall...but quite impressive...obviously couldn't hold a candle to the kl tower...but it's still n achievement for such a state up north...far from the capitol...

8 june
went to star parade again...this time just to surf at their cc...heh...had lived without the internet for a week...just couldn't stand it anymore...yeesh...starting to wonder about my reliance n dependency on the internet...heh...

anywayz...after that...went shopping for more cds n dvds again...heh...well since it was provided with the utmost abundance there...so y not?...

that night...took the bus back to kl...three of us...naim, azam n i...

kuala lumpur
9 june
arrived in kl at pudu...mum brought us home first...prayers, breakfast n a short rest...before we went to times square area...met up with yuyul n her lil bro n hafyz...went walking around low yat first...

later...went to sungei wang...shopping again...n lunch...hafyz n yuyul n her lil bro n naim went bowling...while azam n i hunted down for my mp3 player at low yat...bought creative's muvo slimit at 480...which seriously rocks!...the cheapest price i could get after hunting all over low yat...the highest price i could find was about 600...yeesh...what a rip off i u ask me...thanx to chewman for his info n azam for patiently hunting with me...heh

after that...went to times square...walked around...had a look at the indoor amusement park...before watching imax's back to the crustaceaous...seriously friggin cool!...the 3d graphics seriously made it look damn real...was wondering how shutter would've been on imax...scary!...heh...

headed home after that...received news that mara was to have their btn on 13 this month too...so decided to cancel much of our plans...which included headin down to malacca...naim n azam wanted to head home n prepare for their btn the next day...

10 june
since their bus was scheduled at night...went around central market in the afternoon...wanted to buy some stuffs...but funds were short...so decided to postpone that...the pendant n dreamcatcher looked so tempting...hmm...maybe next time...heh...

headed to klcc next...to enquire bout part timing there...at petrosains or maxis...but seriously speaking...it's too far from where i live...prefer working at times in bsc...anywayz...will keep petrosains open...had lunch before heading back home...

sent naim to putra bus station to catch his bus back to kb at night...n dropped azam there too to catch the ktm to his aunt's place...in kepong...since he couldn't get a bux ticket home...

frankly speaking...there's nothing much u can do in kl...unless u have the money...haih...come to think of it...it's pretty boring to b a townie...heh...no adventure at all!...

that's it...although had two days of rest already...just bumming around the house...no time to learn how to upload photos onto blogger...so i'll do it later...won't b hearing from me for a week at least coz i have btn to attent...mon to fri...so i'll chat with u later k?...till then...take care n god bless

k