Beat It-Michael Jackson

the fresh start

the unplanned & unprepared replacement

I'VE MADE IT!!

120km round island cycling challenge in 12 hours,and it really tested my endurance and faith.

We met up and registered at Pasir ris, sadly enough Yanto and Adil couldn't make it on the last minute and so i got Marlia as a replacement,which she joyfully agreed upon instantly.there were many cyclists,most with their personal bikes,looking seriously cool and calm,everybody were inspecting their bikes with chats and occasional laughters.

me and marlia was designated to group 1,and was issued a pink wristband and worn on the left wrist.there were about 20 folks in my group,and after a welcome briefing,we left the starting point with me feeling the oddest among all.i had hard time adjusting to the change of gears especially on approaching slopes.but after being guided by the team leader,i gradually improved on it.

we cycled from pasir ris to changi,down to ECP and stopped midway for toilet break.continued all the way through swarms of picnic goers at east coast and stopped again at Indoor stadium.marlia was complaining her tummy hurts quite badly.we then cycled through Kallang,Nicoll Highway,past the Esplanade and through the skyscrapers at CBD,Keppel Rd,we past by Vivo City,Telok Blangah,Pasir Panjang and stopped at West Coast Macdonalds for about 10mins.
by then Marlia got this worried and tired look on her face,and so she took the lorry instead.not bad for a begin-from Pasir ris to West coast.i'm so proud of her.well done!

and when we hit the road again,it was one of the worst moments in my life,from west coast to Jalan bahar,i felt slow and during the journey at the long quiet stretch of Jalan bahar i felt like that whole trip was wrong,my rented bike felt slow and lastly i felt like giving up but my team mates were supportive,which by then only a handful in my team continued on,the rest gave up.and my team mates,they were girls,imagine that,petite looking girls who
took up this challenge,while some hard looking men gave up midway.and i truly admire and respect them,and in other groups,there are even old folks,packing food and stuffs wrapped in grocery plastic carrier and hung it on the handle bar and another riding a mountain bike with a basket in front;so it's not how professional you or your bike look-it's in you.and that kept me going.

my most favorite route,neo tiew rd,had the most spectacular view,with spooky mists forming on the trees and fogs covering the roads,totally bad visibility especially for driving,but it was really nice.we stopped at Kranji and took a 15minute break which we then moved on down Mandai rd,to Yishun dam and through those old colonial houses at Jalan Kayu camp and one final stop at Sengkang coffeeshop.and by then i could hardly feel my butt,it hurt so much i had to swallow painkillers and rub lotion on it.i swear it could be even worst if i didn't wear that padded cycling tights.

marlia joined on the final route,we cycled towards Hougang and turned down old Tampines rd where she began to slow down and finally fell from her bike.she quit and once again hopped on the support vehicle.i was way back from the rest,i cycled real fast trying to catch up with them and by then it was sunrise and managed to join my team at Pasir ris and we reached the ending point together.


it was really a challenge,i didn't believe i could finish it and i did.i really takes a lot of determination,and i should actually be prepared for this,which in fact i didn't.but thank God i manage to pull through,it was one of the most exciting experience in my life and i've learnt many things along the way,and one of it is-patience.


my bum still hurts as i typed this,and my mind still reflecting the journey on the mountain bike around Singapore in 12 hours on a cold August weekend.oh boy,i feel good!

next:triathlon challenge???

Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood-Santa Esmeralda

the day has come.

high spirited and my lil heart sings quietly,the much anticipated heart throbbin' adventure begins this evening,my group will depart from pasir ris,the 12hour,120km round island cycling challenge,well,hope & pray that me,adil and yanto could finish this in one piece,before the Ramadan,which is this coming monday.

Marlia showed her love and support,bought me cycling pants and Royal robbins shorts,thank you dear!but she's still pissed off of why i wouldn't allow her to participate as well.well,there's plenty reasons why...

i am very much prepared and my knee,hmm,not quite recovered but way much better now,Alhamdulillah.got all my gear and stuffs packed neatly in a small bag,and right after work later,a short scooter ride to the starting point which is just nearby from my workplace.
i'm just a lil worried about the weather,it's been rainin' pretty bad lately,but i'm sure that won't stop us from ridin',unless the roads got swallowed by floods,well hope not...

gotta rest now-i really can't wait........

Just A Friend-Biz Markie

I swear it was one of the most tensed game ever! Kuyt you're a super hero!

Liverpool faced Standard Liege in the 2nd leg at Anfield earlier today,and i must say,even with The Reds Fans chanting anthems to boost morale support,Standard Liege was really unbothered.it was really frustrating,watching the boys struggling real hard to penetrate Standard Liege's defence,and when it extended to extra time,all were worried that it might ended up to penalty kicks,but Dirk Kuyt proved another miracle this morning,at the final minutes of the extra time and bringing victory and opportunity for Liverpool qualifying the Champs League Group Stages 2008.

The Euro draw will be conducted in Monaco's Grimaldi Forum at 5pm UK time.

Viva La Liverpool!Viva Dirk Kuyt!

Hurry Up Harry-Sham 69

Parti Keadilan Rakyat with Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim emerged as the victorious winner at the Permatang Pauh Parliamentary By-Election last evening.Anwar had garnered 31,195 votes while Barisan Nasional,represented by Datuk Arif Shah Omar Shah,only managed to obtain 15,524 votes and Akim's Hanafi Mamat with the least at only 92 votes.

'Reformasi!'

Eye Of The Tiger-Survivor

be Like Michael Phelps?
Phelps is an American swimmer and a solid 14 time Olympic Gold Medalist;currently holds with pride,7 world records.He got 6 Gold and 2 Bronze at the last Athens Olympics,and only recently at Beijing he got 8 Gold for himself and his country.

with his winning spirit and anthropometrics advantage,he is super fast in the pool.

this is what i've found out;

-At 6’ 4” Phelps has the length in the pool he needs
-An arm span of 6’ 7” gives him incredible pulling power in the water
-He has the torso of a 6’ 8” man that aids his reach
-Phelps’ torso is hydrodynamic (low drag) being long and thin and triangular shaped
-He has the legs of a 6’ tall man giving him a stouter kick, power in the turn and a hydrodynamic lower half
-Phelps’ hands are huge and can grab a lot of water
-His feet are even larger (size 14) and act as a flipper
-Plus Michael Phelps is double jointed which lets him whip his arms, legs and feet through a greater range of motion than most.

Be Inspired!

move aside Aquaman...

Virtual Insanity-Jamiroquai

She moves!

If It Makes You Happy-Sheryl Crow

LFC played against MiddlesBorough at the Reds homeground,and after a goal-less 1st half,Liverpool still not making any progress.with the rather slow gameplay that the team displayed suggests that they are still not fully operating at their fullest yet.the entire team need to work more fluidly with each other,especially with the new stars on board,and yes one might say that its the start of a whole new season,but Reds need to show improvements and produce convincing results.Mido's goal weighted pressure on both Liverpool players and fans alike,the boys in red struggled hard penetrating Boro's defence.
Carra's equaliser boosted morale among the men,as time drew closer towards 90th minute,and truly most incredible was Stevie G's shot during the final minutes that saved the day after all.

the next game this thursday a.m. against Standard De Liege-we gotta go for win!

If we can play good football last Champs League,why can't we do the same in EPL?

Keep The Faith!Viva La Rafalution!
You'll Never Walk Alone!

Galvanize-The Chemical Brothers

Argentina bagged Gold for the 2nd time at the Olympics today,Sergio Batista boys have beaten Nigeria in the mens football final earlier this morning.Javier 'Monster' Mascherano,who dedicated the Gold Medal to Rafa Benitez,is also the second Liverpool player with 2 Olympics Gold medal besides Arthur Berry.

Salute No. 20!We're proud of ya!C'mon Home To Merseyside!

Digital Love-Daft Punk

If you like all things funky colorful and super cool -click Serge Seidlitz.

and now click Daft Punk below too.

Patience-Guns & Roses

Hungarian weightlifter,Janos Baranyai,in his first Olympics,ended in tragedy.

Travelling Without Moving-Jamiroquai

i was enjoying the Olympics womens football final between Brazil and USA earlier,watchin' it live on cable tv;Worker's stadium in my living room.and it was really a very dramatic match,i mean those girls were good,it was a hard game and of course one must not compare the womens football to mens,i mean,you know what i mean,same game,same rules but hey,they're girls,the game speed and intensity way slower than mens game but i really respect and admire their skills and determination.true dat!and it was a hard fight which was extended to extra time when finally Lloyd Carli rammed the ball into Brazil's net and with that goal,added extra pressure on the yellow shirts,which could be seen on their faces.and eventually,when the referee blew the final whistle,both USA players and fans were jumpin' with delight and joy,leaving the poor Brazilians with some whom couldn't control their emotions and burstin' into tears,still unbelieving they couldn't beat the red,white & blue champs.

and one comment i would like to add-the girls looked real ugly spitting during the game!
(like guys not?but hey we're so used to that!!)

Always On My Mind-Elvis Presley

'He sees himself on the banks of the Nile river,
The water is receding before him,becoming mere mud,
The fish begin to skip and jump in the mud.
Seven fat cows come out of the river and followed by seven lean cows.
The seven lean ones devour the seven fat ones.
Then,seven ears of green grain grow on the river banks,and disappear in the mud.
On the same spot,grow seven dry ears of grain.'

It's My Life-Dr Alban

Click on pic for Ok Fresh!

John The Revelator-Depeche Mode

Sweet Dreams-Marilyn Manson

After The Love Has Gone-Earth,Wind & Fire

A crocodile was caught by anglers at sungei tampines off pasir ris beach.it is believed that is the same croc which hit 'fear' among the community recently.

the croc was wrestled down by 3 guys and after snapping pictures they called up and handed the poor crocodile over to the police.

i'm totally unimpressed.they shouldn't have done that,pulling the creature up on the boardwalk with force,pinning it down,taping with scotch tape and handing it over to the authorities doesn't make them heroes.and does the capture of that wild animal,always pictured as dangerous and 'will attack human on sight',will apply on all other wild animals as well?like for example snakes,monkeys and monitor lizards,which in fact will also attack human,if provoked,yes IF PROVOKED!even if another human provoke another human,the latter will attack the other.it's naturally being defensive.
now don't be influenced by those ignorant human beings-who supposed to be intelligent,they create rumours that a 'one metre crocodile' will attack if you swim at Pasir Ris beach,and instead of doing something more productive,some dumb anglers channel their energies of capturing a poor baby croc and handed it over to the cops who later sent it to the zoo.now very smart move those so called 'croco heroes',you guys have just remove an innocent creature from its home.

that's a total failure of showing respect to nature.
Be a Man not a Mouse!Boo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

click here for more news.

Can't Fight This Feeling-Reo Speedwagon

Week in,week out,it's about a couple weeks more to September.the EPl already kicked off last weekend,the Olympics in Beijing,the crocodile in Pasir Ris and the tiring courses that i was sent by the Co.Oh look how fast time flies...

With new stars in the Anfield crew-Robbie Keane,Phillip Deggen,Andrea Dossena,David Ngog & David Cavalieri and with the comeback kid Daniel Agger back in action and sadly that Tom Hicks and George Gillett stopped the $18 mil Gareth Barry deal and that Aston Villa's midfielder won't be hummin' the Liverpool anthem at all.

The current news is the Olympics in Beijing of course,and much i would love to say much but sad that much that i didn't have the time to watch it live!even the football and swimming segments that i've tried to follow but my plans failed due to commitments at work.i hate it!

Pasir Ris beach is only a breeze away from my darling workplace,but its been a awhile i've not gotten myself wet,casting nets and hauling mullets and crabs,and ever since my work laden multiplied,i've actually have stopped fishing at all.have seen and heard weird and interesting things during those dark creepy weeknights when the beach was dead quiet before,seen colonies of beautiful colorful jelly fishes,barracudas chasin lil fishes and a gigantic monitor lizard carcass, which was mistaken for a crocodile on the sandy beach.and when the rumours spread around last couple of weeks,i just giggled-probably just another monitor lizard,but when i saw the pic,i was truly convinced!it does look like a croc alright!but all i wish for is that all those curious 'adventurers' to stay away from that reptile coz it might get nasty if provoked and let it be in peace in its so called newfound habitat-may they breed in abundance and live happily together with fellow pasir ris residents!something i really would love to see and be proud of a new blooming wildlife,here in sunny eastern side of Lion City!God Save the Croc!

Discern between Good and Evil Folks!

Needles & Pins-Ramones

day 2 at the acupuncture's joint-i was electrified again!

yeah,despite the busy schedule,i managed to visit and got the personal feel of the exotic pricks-acupuncture!

was introduced by my colleague,we actually visit the acupuncturist during lunch hour the other day-and despite the 'piercing' look,it's not actually as painful as it seems.just felt like an ant bite or so to say.when i first stepped into the clinic,i must say it looked pretty much like an ordinary clinic,only that most of the signages and directions on the walls,even the pictorials of human body are labelled in chinese.herbs in phat containers and idols adorned the shelves,and i'm the only one out,well except me and my filipino compadre larry,who was busy focusing his football on psp.
-my neighbourhood g.p. who diagnosed me with osteo athritis or O.A. in short,said it's gonna take a long while to recover,no running or swimming but i could proceed with cycling which she added is good for me.

-the acupuncturist on the other hand,said NO exercise of any form,but when i told him about the cycling challenge this month end,he said,my knee should be well by then.

so i like to stick to the acupuncturist's instructions-a more feasible plan.and being comparative with both visit-the g.p. gave me 2 days mc,painkillers for 3 days and a soothing gel which don't improve my knee pain-except for me idling for two days of course.the acupuncturist visit actually have a better progress;it's less painful now,i can actually bend and stretch my knee with only a slight pain now,lookin good!

the method the acupuncturist used-about 5-6 needles around the knee area,and applied electrolysis current for about 10 minutes,and after he removed the needles,he rubbed some cooling ointment and then start direct massaging onto the area-and believe me-it's painful.once done,he cupped the affected areas with bamboo containers.about shortly after that,he applied green ointment around my knee and wrapped it up with a bandage.prescribed some weird,sand like herbs which is to be mixed in a cup of hot water and drink.and yes it's not sweet.

and earlier this morning was my 2nd visit,my third will be this wednesday.hope and pray my knee will be in good form again.

Drive-R.E.M.

Crash Helmets Galore!

Cool helmets which will sure drive every scooterists/urban bikers cream in their pants.
these are a selection of my favourites.

Davida helmets.the retro look.

Davida unleashed way cool outta world helmet designs-and this one below looked similar to mine-only it's not Davida-i wish..

Momo Design Helmet.the sleek cutting edge cut.

Les Ateliers Ruby-Simply Class-

Click below for mo' info!

Davida
Momo Design
Les Ateliers Ruby

Alive-Pearl Jam

Been 3 days,away from work,absence with valid reason,but my bad knee doesn't seems to recover,oops i'm a bit worried now,the pain only neutralized due to the painkillers that i've swallowed,now tomorrow gonna be the last few pills,and then i'll face the pain again,if it's not recovered.let's just push that thought aside now,hope that i'll be strong like a horse by sunrise.

today i woke up real early.ran through my notes but midway i was almost dozing off.so i left home to get my helmet's visor replaced,it accidentally slipped off my butter fingers last night,landed hard on marina square's slippery glittery tiles,rolled and knocked the plastic visor,breaking it into half.decided to got it fixed,so i went around searching for the same one and finally got it replaced for $9.00.i stopped at one shop,and got my seat cover replaced as well-$48-now that's a bargain,compared to another shop where the salesgirl quoted a stabbing $80.

got my visor changed,gotta new seat,gotta whole lotta new feel.

got back home,and later that evening my bro amir asked whether i've bought ayah's gift as tomorrow's his birthday,OHH...i've forgotten...

and like flash,i stood up,got dressed,packed and left home in a rush-i sped all the way towards the city-i can't think of other things-all my mind could picture was,to get me dad a watch for his birthday.and all i had was one hour.

it was 5pm,when i left,reached bugis by 5.20pm,got the watch in about 10mins of scanning and surveying,left the place and rushed up to changi south where i had to fetched marlia to our Sirah class at Darul Arqam-and i managed to do all that dangerously-in less than an hour.all could be a lil safer if i remembered all the important dates in life-i'm recklessly foolish.

and thank God i'm still alive.

so yesterday i met up with cuzzie Adil,we went down to Singapore Adventurer's Club office at traffic crazy Geylang lor 27,was quite frustrated looking for the place,and finally,we've registered ourselves for the 120km cycling challenge on the 30th-31st of Aug.and that's why i'm worried about me knee.

paid the dough for the registration and the bike rental which comes with safety helmet.and deep down my heart whispered-can i finish the race in one piece?it's either the bike or myself might break halfway,but i'm pretty turned on,and my spirits are one hell burning desire to try this one out-it's just the physical part i should be worried about.
in world war 2,those ambitious skinny japs cycled through Malaya;and now with new technology applied on bikes,making it stable,lighter and way faster and safer,is there any reason why i should back out out of the race?although neither me nor adil has a loving passion for cycling-and to complete the race is really a big challenge,i just hope we could.

c'mon & quit being dormant!

Cest La Vie!

Lil Ghetto Boy-Dr Dre and Snoop Dogg

i know what i'm gonna do,i'm gonna make a lil trip down to sims,eat durians!!!!

prior to what many old folks say-don't eat too much of those 'heaty' fruits and no 'cold' foods for the old folks.are those things for real?

i dunno,but best thing for sure,i love durians,and the real thing is that durians contains fiber,good source of vitamin c and some forms of vitamin b like riboflavin,thiamin and niacin to name a few.

and yes of course;"Too much of anything is no good for you!"

Click here for more details on Durians nutrition facts and values-you'll be amaze i guarantee...

Everything Will Flow-Suede

the animated version of Star Wars-The Clone Wars-invading the theatres pretty soon!

May The Force Be With You!

and btw i saw the millenium falcon on sale at Carrefour the other day,and good God i have faith,coz it cost a burning $300.phew.all i could was only touch and stroke the box back and forth.

The Perfect Kiss-New Order

three days i've been,working at the pool,under the hot blazing sun.my skin all burnt,especially my back,where it's stingin' the most.the weather is a killer,even those lifeguards who were supposed to be 'sun-proof',were complaining about it.

and this morning when i woke up,it's not the sunburnt on my back,or the shade marks around my eyes;my right knee was badly in severe pain,neither could i stretched it fully nor bend it normally.i was limping,like an old man.

i went down to the local clinic,the doctor advised me not to aggravate it further,no exercise but cycling is fine,gave me painkillers,2 days rest and a big smile.

a big smile.
i have just watched Carlito's Way,finally,after a long time it has been chucked and almost forgotten.been eating lotsa snacks and lying lazily,now i am planning what should i do with the rest of the unplanned time-or should i just do nothing at all?pretty bored actually..

i am quite worried about the knee actually,coz of all the upcoming Runs that i've signed up and the 120km cycling challenge especially,which i'm supposed to meet up with the boys to register tomorrow,hope and pray i'll recover soon enough.Insya Allah.

Go Carlito!