2015 KL Towerthon : Worth IT!

All this while, just heard it. Never had a chance to participate.

Somehow this year, we decided to try it –once in a lifetime kali (the mantra).

Beginning at 5 am local time : 17 May 2015, all the participants in KL Towerthon will be release in batches.

300 peoples would be flagged off, starting with Mens Open categories.

Total duration recorded after the challenges completed by every participants.

Mulanya kami sume kene berlari menaiki bukit daripada kawasan parking utama sejauh 800meter, then mula menaiki laluan bertangga 7 minit selepas itu.

Laluan bertangga ini ada laluan memotong, yang mana muat untuk 2 orang lalu pada setiap step.

Ada juga air ventilations di setiap separuh tingkat, juga exit door from laluan bertangga untuk peserta berehat –take a breather/go to the designated water station.

The poster also available to remind how much steps yang left, from the total amount of 2,058 steps.

We completed the challenges at level TH00, just below the observation deck.

I managed to complete this towerthon within 35mins.

We collected the medals and then proceed to the lift to go down, all the participants queue up to the lift with all the sweat pearls drop down from our faces and bodies.

Dream #2015

Inisiatif yang ditunggu-tunggu selama ini akan diusahakan sehingga berjaya;

Impian sekian lama untuk mengakhiri zaman bujang akan menjadi nyata (insyaAllah).

Apply untuk sambung master : 2016

Status pemangkuan dapat diketahui secepat mungkin, dan berharap mampu bertahan 1.5 tahun sahaja lagi di sini.

Dapat apply JICA untuk ke Jepun/ COTI untuk ke Korea (the last chance, i guess).

BKSU/EPU Rinjani Mountain, Lombok Hiking Adventure!

DAY 1 12 September 2014 (FRIDAY) :-
LEMBAR HARBOUR – SEMBALUN LAWANG VILLAGE - POST II CAMP SITE

We meet and greet at Lembar Harbour and transfer to Sembalun Village, driving approximately 2.5 hours. Mountain guides gave us briefing regarding the route details, local cultural traditions and safety procedures. Then we started for the beginning of 2.5 hrs challenging days, walking through the savannah field and we arrived at Pos II around 5.30 pm (Tengengean – 1500m).

DAY 2 13 September 2014 (SATURDAY):-
POST II CAMP SITE - PLAWANGAN SEMBALUN CRATER RIM (2639M).

We woke up at 6.30am and got breakfast. Around 8.00 am, we start the trekking to Pos III (Pada Balong ) 1800 m, duration is approximately 2 hours. Rest for a few minutes at Pos III, afterwards we proceed to Sembalun Crater Rim (Pelawangan Sembalun) 2639M - 3 hours trekking time including a prolonged steep climb.

We arrived at Sembalun Crater Rim @ 3pm. Here we can enjoy the cool climates,awesome views of the Segara Anak Lake, Sembalun Village, the summit of Mount Rinjani and half of North Lombok.

DAY 3 14 September 2014 (SUNDAY):-
PLAWANGAN SEMBALUN CRATER RIM TO RINJANI MOUNTAIN SUMMIT (3726M).

We woke up at 01:00 am,have some light breakfast, ready the climbing equipments then leave at 02:00 am. Here, we had to do the trekking in order to reach the summit of Rinjani (3726 m), 5.5 hours. The first stage is a moderate climb, while the second stage is a fairly easy but long trekking. The final 2hours (400 metres) is very steep and difficult. A lot of loose stones, and as you take two steps forward you will slip one step back.

The satisfaction and excitement guaranteed when I personally arrived at the summit around 0740am, after my three climber buddies succeeded around 0730am. From the summit, the breathtaking views of Lombok Island, Bali, Sumbawa and Segara Anak Lake should be cherished.

After almost 2 hours at the summit (waiting for the others to arrive), we went down to the Sembalun Crater Rim for another 2.5 hours (basecamp). After lunch, we trekking down again to Post III (another 4 hours) and we camped the night here.

Our teams had 7 climbers from 11 climbers that succeeded in reaching the summit of Rinjani, after such treacherous paths obstructed our 4 climbers from completing our mission target.

DAY 4 15 September 2014 (MONDAY) :-
POST III – SENARU VILLAGE – SENGGIGI.

After breakfast, we trekking down 4 hours to Senaru Village finally arrived @11 am. We had a lunch and boarding the van to Senggigi Town starting 1 pm and safely lodged at Mascot Hotel (4pm).

Koh Samui - Surattanee Adventure (28 Aug - 2 Sept 2014)

Kali ini aku dan 3 orang lagi kawan berkelana ke Pulau Samui @ Koh Samui.
Perjalanan yang melalui udara, darat dan laut sebelum sampai ke destinasi dituju;

1.5 jam dari KLIA2 ke Surattanee Int. Airport,
1 jam dari SIA ke Jeti Donsak, dan
1.5 jam dari Jeti Donsak ke Jeti Nathon.

Jarak perjalanan dari Surattanee ke Koh Samui sejauh 84km.
Percutian yang telah dirancang hampir 3 bulan yang lalu.
Ini kali kedua aku explore Thailand, selepas berkesempatan ke Phuket pada April 2004 bersama rombongan PowerHealth UiTM.

Adapun inilah coretan kembara group kami di sana >>>

Penginapan :

Coconut Beach Resort nie kelihatan mewah. Swimming pool yang dikelilingi pepohon kelapa. Teh, Nescafe free flow di area lobi. Towel tebal sebanyak 4 helai 1 bilik. Centralized Aircond yang cukup kuat. Cuma room lighting agak mendukacitakan dan balkoni utk bilik bawah yang sempit.

Pengangkutan :

Cara paling murah dan efektif, semestinya dengan menyewa motosikal dengan kadar 200B selama 24 jam. Di luar kawasan hotel, boleh dapat 150B. Bahan bakar banyak dijual di tepi2 jalan - gasolin x sampai 500ml dgn harga 40B sebotol. Isian minyak waktu memulangkan motor x langsung dilihat.

Makanan Halal :

Agak susah nak mencari makanan Halal di sini.
Kami bernasib baik malam pertama kami di Samui, seorang hamba Allah bernama Ben menunjukkan jalan untuk kami ke Restoran Melayu Samui.

Untuk bfast 2 hari seterusnya, kami dapat merasa nasi kerabu dan maggi goreng bersup di sekitar perkampungan Melayu Samui. Sini masakannya pedas-pedas manis dan tokey kedai boleh berbahasa Melayu Kelate.

Seterusnya kami berjumpa kedai makanan halal (gorengan panas,pau) x jauh dari simpang masuk ke perkampungan Melayu Samui untuk lunch d sana.

Malam terakhir di Samui, kami tapao dinner dari Restoran Faria, berdepan Bangkok
Hospital otw balik dari Chaweng Beach. Malangnya, harga terlalu mahal - nasi paprik 100B seorang - ape yg dapat x sama dengan ape yang dipesan. Waiter punya angguk macamlah faham sangat.

Local fruits ice-blended like mango, watermelon and dragon fruit with price tag-40B, about 7km dari Pantai Lamai.

Dekat Samui banyak convenience stores seperti 7 Eleven & Family Mart yang menjual makanan dan minuman ringan berlogo halal Thai seperti Air Kotak Buah, Yogurt, Snek Ringan, dll.

XTVT Khas :


1. Menunggang Gajah dengan harga 700B seorang selama 1/2 jam. Utk bergambar dikira harga lain - 300B. Sempat juga tawar menawar dgn penjaga gajah, dapatlah diskaun 100B saja. 1 gajah dinaiki 2 orang, walau kami cuba dapatkan seekor gajah utk seorang. Nasib aku x berapa baik, dapat gajah yang moody, kemungkinan kelaparan pun ada.Lokasinya di Namuang Safari Park, 10km dari Pantai Lamai.Akhirnya dapat juga merasa naik gajah di bumi Siam.

2. Namuang Waterfall II. Kami siap bawak pakaian mandi tapi pulang hampa. No big pool to bath.Tinggi waterfall je 85 metres. Sempatlah posing sebab dah hiking 10 minit sebelum nampak itu waterfall. Entrance Fees 50B 4 one person with a chance to redeem cool drinking water @ restaurant nearby.

3. Snorkeling dan kayaking di perairan Pulau Petik dan Koh Som. Pakej seharian dengan harga 3500B. Menaiki bot nelayan pergi dan balik 2 jam ke snorkeling site. Cuaca yang baik, cuma laut agak cloudy walaupun waktu snorkeling 11 pagi ke atas. Arus laut yang sederhana, cuma lokasi2 snorkeling yang kurang tepat. 1st - dasar dah dalam tapi ikan xde. 2nd - Coral reefs dan coral fishes yang banyak tapi dasar terlalu cetek, x smpai 1 meter. 3rd - Ikan2 laut yang banyak, dasar yang dalam hampir 10 meter, tapi dipanggil balik untuk lunch. Mask drop to the bottom sewaktu berpaut pada kayak, yang akhirnya capsized.

4. Berenang di Swimming Pool Resort. Free of charge, kedalaman 1.2 meter.
Pool lengths - 25 metres. Berenang sambil melayan deruan bayu laut dan desiran dedaun kelapa yang mempesonakan. Sempat juga membuat kelas snorkeling di sini.

5. Jogging di Pantai Lamai. Aku sempat cover 1.5km di pagi Ahad. Banyak resort di pesisiran pantai dan tahi anjing. Suasana yang indah, mendamaikan disinari sang mentari sambil meregangkan otot dan minda.

6. Melepak di Chaweng Beach Viewpoint . 7km dari Pantai Lamai. Kami boleh nampak laut yang luas terbentang dari puncak bukit. Breathtaking view! Keseluruhan Pantai Chaweng dapat dilihat dari sini. Pantai Chaweng ini agak serupa dengan Batu Ferringhi di PPinang.

7.Sightseeing @ Lamai Beach . Banyak pubs, nightclubs, poledance bars dan massage centres di sekitar jalan utama. Ada juga gerai menjual pancake bananas yang sedap dan halal. Selebihnya restoran dan gerai non-muslim locals.
8. Pembakaran tanglung di Pantai Lamai. Dengan harga 200B beserta rakaman video dan tips pembakaran oleh penjual. Kami bakar tanglung tengah2 malam buta.Panas juga nak menahan tanglung tue sebelum betul2 panas.Angin yang kuat menerbangkan tanglung ke arah Pantai Chaweng. Simple but exciting!

Footnotes : Surat Thani / Surattanee

Profile Bandar Transit untuk sesiapa yang mahu ke Koh Samui, Koh Phang Nga dan Koh Tao.Ada jetty, airport, market, 3-4 shopping complexes, cineplex, KFC, kitchen utensils/ sporting shoes shoplots, satu2nya lokasi pembelian souvenier di MyPlace Hotel.

Accomodation Banyak hotel dengan kadar patut untuk bermalam seperti di CBD Hotel, MyPlace Hotel. CBD Hotel yang kami bermalam agak luas dan selesa. Macam suites pun ada.

Locals Didiami majoriti penduduk Siam beragama Buddha. Populasi masyarakat Melayu di sini agak sedikit dan tidak memahami bahasa Melayu kerana berasal langsung dari sini. Melayu di Koh Samui pula majoritinya berasal dari Pattani.

Halal Dishes
1. Ada 2 gerai di luar pasar yang menjual nasi berlauk.Waktu operasi 4.30 petang hingga 2 pagi. Menghidangkan juadah seperti ayam goreng,rangka ayam dgn kepalanya, padkapao ayam, gulai rebung disulami dengan kacang panjang,petai mentah beserta sambal belacan terbaik.Lauk-lauknya memang sedap dan pedas.Manis itu jauh sekali.

2. Restoran misteri yang hanya buka untuk lunch. Hidangan utama ialah nasi ayam (khao-mun-khai). Saiz hidangan berupa 4 pinggan nasi ayam (sup+sos), sepinggan ayam extra dan air minuman hanya berharga 180B. Nasi ayam yang sangat sedap dan berlemak.
Entah kenapa beras Siam di ST ini agak mengenyangkan.

3. Kedai Muslim menjual roti canai telor + teh tarik di pasar pagi. 100B utk 4 orang sekali makan.Sememangnya murah dan pemilik kedai yang excited melayan kehadiran kami di pagi Isnin.

Shopping@Market
Produk-produk masakan boleh dibeli di beberapa gerai muslim.Pes tomyam, pes sup, tepung ayam goreng lada hitam+halia, sos celup pedas manis Mae Nom dan cili kisar antara yang boleh didapati. Semua produk dijamin halal oleh Majlis Agama Islam Thailand.

Local Fruits / Vegetables
20B sekilo utk manggis dan langsat.100B sekilo untuk dragon fruits.10 ulas besar durian Siam dengan harga 75B. Jagung juga ada dijual. Gerai menjual sayur2an dan buah2an dibuka daripada malam hingga dinihari di sekitar pasar.

Swensen Ice-Cream
Boleh merasa desert : aiskrim durian Mon Thong bersama irisan emping jagung dan pulut dengan harga 69B seorang (trmasuk GST). Aiskrim yang lembut, rasa yang unik.

Beijing Reflections

1.China is overcrowded, a lot of peoples.We can expect it.
If you go to the tourist attractions,better to go during weekdays.

2.During your walks, mingle with local peoples, it is normal if you found that the childrens
is allowed to pee/poo in the sideways.

3.Public toilet can be found everywhere. Its free but beware they sharing the toilet and the door is open 24 hrs.

4.You can always found the halal food with halal signs near your hotel/mosque but
it is not that easy if you travel outside of Central Beijing.

5.The Chinese people is always willing to help, so friendly if you ask for it.
Even though they only fluent in their mother tongue. If you ask for direction,
the pronunciation of Chinese places is insufficient.
You must wrote the Chinese writing in the small paper, give it to them.

6.When you bargained during shopping, always went to the jugulars.
30% from the starting prices offered to you is a must.
Add Mandarin a lil bit, so u can relax knowing that you are in for a real bargains.

7.If you decide to hiking/explore the great wall, you should went to the outer Beijing,
you can truly enjoy the magnificient of it. Badaling GW too crowded.

8.Upon reflection, the forbidden city aka imperial palace is such a majestic historical complex, but due to the traffics of people, I am not so overwhelmed by it.

9.The cheapest mode of transportations is always be a subway.With 2 yuan each, you can transfer between lines as long as you don’t exit the subway.

10.The earphones is so popular in China.

11.Nanluogu Xiang is the most popular alleyways in Old Hutong indeed.

12.Every tourist/public attractions including mansions, gardens and palaces
always had an entrance fees stick to it, except for Houhai Lake.

13.If you travel to China by low cost carriers like Air Asia, in order to board the flight,
keep it in mind that you must go to the different terminals.

14.“Tapao” can be used to take away your foods if you don’t have time to dine-in.

15.The total spending during your travel to China, is almost equivalent to your spending in Indonesia.

SO LETS GO CHINA AGAIN!