Manchester United Rejoices
Jan 11 – Could proved to be the turning point for the English Premier League for the 2008/2009 season. First Liverpool shot blanks at Stoke City and were held to a goalless draw after manager Rafael Benitez made some uncalled personal attacks on Sir Alex Ferguson only three days earlier in a lame attempt to rattle the Manchester United squad before the big day clash with Chelsea. Clearly from the outburst from Benitez showed that Liverpool feared Manchester United most amongst the top three rivals.
Then Chelsea’s manager Luis Felipe Scolari then announced that Chelsea knows how to neutralise Cristiano Ronaldo as they have three defenders one on midfielder who play along side Ronaldo in the Portuguese national team and they know how to take him out of the game. Deco, Jose Bosingwa, Ricardo Carvalho and Paula Ferreira are all set and ready to take on Cristiano Ronaldo. Coming to Old Trafford with their unbeaten away record and a wisp of arrogance, Chelsea thought that they will end the Red Devils’ title ambitions right in front of their own crowd.
Cristiano Ronaldo played and did his artistic runs up and down the flanks. Chelsea players were throwing themselves at him. Stop Ronaldo, Stop Ronaldo was Chelsea’s main objective. Ronaldo played to their tune. Come and get me, come and get me! Ronaldo taunted.
Chelsea thought they were doing right for they kept Ronaldo at bay for 45 minutes. It was stoppage time. Ryan Giggs took the corner. Where is Ronaldo? Giggs wasn’t passing to Ronaldo. He crossed to Berbatov. Berbatov flicked it toward Vidic who headed home past a helpless Petr Cech. Goal No 1.
After the break, Chelsea tried to go for broke by bring in Nicholas Anelka for Deco. While Nicholas Anelka provided more firepower upfront, Gary Neville, Jonathan Evans, Nemanja Vidic and Patrice Erva managed to contain the Chelsea strikers, limitting them to only desperate long distance shots.
While all attention was on Ronaldo, Patrice Evra broke through the left flank in the 66th minute and cross a perfect for Wayne Rooney to stab home Goal No 2.
Chelsea by now know that they were beaten and it would take a miracle for them to get back into the game. With the back their back broken, Chelsea tried but could never threaten Edwin Van Der Saar in anyway. As Chelsea became more desperate, their tackles went wild with John Terry being booked in the 80th minutes and Julio Beletti in the 86th minute. Beletti’s foul provided the final platform for Cristiano Ronaldo for they could mark in in open play but in a deadball situation, Ronaldo is king. Ronaldo centered a precise freekick for Dimitar Berbatov to push the ball past Petr Cech for Goal No 3.
What a splendid win for the Red Devils. The final score Manchester United 3 Chelsea 0.
For Sir Alex and his boys, it is other 3 points and they have proven that Manchest United is a team. It is not about Cristiano Ronaldo. It is all about Manchester United.
But for Chelsea, it was their first away loss of the season. It was also the worst defeat, Chelsea has suffered since the 2005/2006 season. No one has beaten them for more two goals in the last three years. While Jan 11 may signal the awakening of the Champions’ march to the title, it could also be the day the superiority of Chelsea is finally erased forever.
Finding Chemperoh Falls
Jan 4 - Our task for the day to find Chemperoh Waterfalls which was described as a difficult falls hidden in Janda Baik. Our previous attempt two weeks ago was thwart by rain because we had to do a river crossing. We rendezvous at the Shell Station in Gombak at 7.00 a.m. and as usual there were stragglers. By 7.45 am, most of us have arrived but we still had to wait for a first timer who couldn’t find the place. Five cars proceeded to the Genting Sempah rest stop while one car continued waiting for the first timer. She finally arrived at 8.00 a.m. We then sped to Genting Sempah to join up with the rest only to be told that we have to wait for another car which was coming directly to meeting point. So there we were, 32 adults gathering outside the Macdonald’s waiting for one person. The boys started some street dancing to pass time while one innovative lass opened up the boot of the car and stretched herself horizontally for a rest. The rest of with nothing to do, starting taking her pictures and soon she was in the center spot.
Hurray at last the 33rd trekker arrived at 9.00 a.m. and we get to start.
We then found out that our leader, Joe left her GPS at home and we had to go in blindly. Well, that would make the trek even more exciting. I took the lead and led the convoy of 7 cars to the point where we abandoned our attempt two weeks ago. Joe expressed that we will use the farm route instead of crossing the river where one of the locals told us to. So Leo led the way and we started trekking up a very steep farm trail.
After about 500 meters continues climb, Leo told us to turn back. He felt that it was not the way and one lady who had trekked from Gunung Nuang to Janda Baik told us of another trek where she had passed a waterfalls. We decied to use her way. So it back to the cars. We had to drive to another part of Janda Baik.
After parking our cars in the second stop, we did a river crossing and reached a lush farm land. One of the trekker then decided not to continue and told everyone, he wants to go home. His four companions did not want to follow him so we will have to distribute his companions into the remaining vehicles for the return journey. Anyway, one abandonment ain’t gonna to spoil the journey. While the companions returned to the car to transfer their stuff to other vehicles, I took the opportunity to enjoy the beatiful farm scene. One group started trekking and left a trail of paper for the rest to follow.
I was really enjoying the fresh air and the scenery until I came to a fork. There was no paper trail. Harris, Sam and Diana was with me. Harris went ahead to check and returned to confirm there was no trail and advised to turn back.
We then turned back and finally found the paper trail in small fork which I had missed earlier. The trail is another climb through farm country. Soom we caught up with Joe who was the sweeper. She was surprised to see us as we were ahead of her. We trek about an hour through farms before we reached the edge of the jungle.
The trek through the jungle was pleasant as it provided us a more varied terrain and not to mention beautiful fauna and flora along the way like the beautiful wild ginger flower. We continued on the jungle trail for 45 minutes before we could hear the sound of rushing water. The last stretch was a steep down hill all the way to the river. Once we reached the river, we could see the waterfalls some 150 meters away. We waded through the river to reach the falls.
It was an exhilirating feeling as we have managed to reach our falls.
The most intersting characteristic of this falls is the giant red boulder at the bottom of the falls.
Well, it was another good workout for the day and another waterfalls conquered.
The New Year Is On The Way
(Our bottle of wine in our study)
Jan 3 – Slow start to the year but smooth and steady. We have not made any resolutions but climbing KK seemed to be one. Will probably planned for mid year. But I have decided to lose 10 kgs for the KK climb. Meanwhile, we climb a few mountains back in the Peninsular before we attempt KK. Will start will with Gunung Datok, Gunung Kutu and Gunung Angsi. Hopefully, we can move on to Gunung Nuang and Gunung Yong Yap by June before we attempt KK. Well, I am 100 kgs as per 1st January 2009 and I have to be 89 kgs or less by June 2009. Seems like a tall order since I have not been under 90 kgs for like a decade.
Anyway, was in office in the morning. Things under control. Had to trouble shoot a couple matters where staff misinterpret instructions. Had a visitor as well, marketing matters. Resolved that in a jiffy and I was ready to leave by 12.35 pm. Had to continue my drive back to KL and to add mileage towards my journey around the globe four times. Back home for porridge lunch as it was pouring like cats and dogs. Normally, I will pick Mei up at Putra to have lunch outside. Anyway, lunch at home was great especially it was the first carbo I have taken in 36 hours. Nap in the afternoon, FB a bit then I actually bugged Mei to go for a jog. All the time it has been her bugging me to jog but have not ran since Christmas. Just needed to sweat it out. Finally, we tore ourselves away from the desktop and Mac and did our run. I finally managed to jog up a steep 100 meters hill without stopping and continued non stop for 3 km. Felt that I had another 2 km in me but it was getting dark.
After our shower, we attempted to watch a movie at the Gardens Premier Cinemas. OMG. All the nine pm plus seats were taken. Sucks! Who was says there is a recession? We went to Mid Valley and the queue was until MacDonald’s Forget it.
We went for our dinner instead. Sushi King. For the first time, I did not take a single piece of sushi. God knows I love sushi. Too much carbo. Took a whole Sashimi Moriewashi by myself instead. As compensation, I took spider roll and a few strands of Mei’s Udon. Nuff for the day. Control….
Anyway, we wanted some German beer after our dinner and we looked for the Sports Bar at the ground floor. Found that it was closed. Walked around and could find any watering holes except for Chilies. I loved the Margarita at Chillies but the branch at Mid Valley looked too much like a restaurant for my liking.
We decide to go home and have a bottle of wine by ourselves. Here I am one bottle of wine gone. We moved on to beer because we dare not open another bottle as we have to wake up at 6 am for another trek, another day.
Jan 4 – here we come.
I Drove Around The World
Jan 2, 2009 – First work day for the year and I was driving back to work when it dawned upon me that I have actually been driving up and down the KL-Karak highway or the E8 for the past 10 years 10 months. When I did the math, I was even more amazed that an average of 250 km weekly return journey would work out to be a total of 140,750 km.
This is 3 1/2 times round the earth’s circumference of 40,000 km. This is purely the weekly return journey distance from my home in Bukit Jalil to my office in Mentakab, Pahang. I have not factored in my daily commute, my mid week trips and my outstation journeys. Then it struck me that at RM 0.20 per km for petrol consumption, I would have spent a minimum of RM 28,150 for my weekly travel.
The time for each journey would be about 1 1/2 hours in the morning and 2 hours return on Saturday afternoons due to the heavier traffic. The 3 1/2 hours spent weekly worked out to be 1,970.5 hours or a total of 82 days on the road.
I have been questioned before why I travel like I do, week in week out. Well meaning colleagues has suggested for me to move in permanently to Mentakab instead of wasting my productive time and splashing money on petrol. My superiors even doubted my loyalty as it was viewed that I was not willing to commit myself permanently in Mentakab.
Well, the answer is simple. The money and time spent is well worth keeping in touch with the world, keeping up with times, having a grip on reality. Mentakab is a very sheltered place living in its own time and oblivious to the outside world. The sacrifice I made is worth keep my feet in both worlds, the little town of Mentakab and the greater world out there. Even though I was amazed how much I have driven over the years, I have no regrets and will continue to do it if I have to.
If my superiors ever question my loyalty, with this new insight, I will just tell them that I have driven round the world three and half times for them. 
Jan 1 2009
Jan 1 – The minutes are ticking away as a new episode opens while I am well into the first 24 hours of 2009.
The eve of the 1st day of 2009 has started rather tamely with a very sober celebration at a friend’s place followed by viewing the fireworks display outside his house which is a stone throw from the Curve. We then returned to the house and watched “Accidental Husband” to pass time as we anticipated a traffic jam. True enough, we left at 1.45 a.m. and was still greeted by a massive jam. We managed to take a back road to link to Penchala Link and we were in Sri Hartamas by 2.00 a.m. where we got caught in a traffic jam. The culprit of the crawl was a Police Road Block which delayed us some 20 minutes. After the road block which I had no problems in clearing, we were home by 2.45 a.m. It was such a tame affair compared with the eve of 2008.
Slept in late on the first day of the year. I was down with a nasty sore throat and a dry cough so there was no inducement to go out. We gave a Bukit Apek trek a miss as we expected a late night. On second thoughts, we could have done the Bukit Apek trek which was scheduled at 8.30 am. Nevertheless, I only woken at 10.30 am and it was a continued affair with my Desk top. Checking out my Facebook, commenting on Flickr, going through my blog, etc. took a good 3 hours before we proceed for lunch at Madam Kwan’s.
Thought of catching up on a movie but the crowd at Pavilion was just too much to our liking. Came back to nap. Handled a couple of business calls (some people has no life and work on holidays). Mowed the lawn. Watched MIB again. Had dinner and watched Jurassic Park III. Then it back t0 the desktop.
That’s pretty much summed up my first day of 2009. A bit too low tuned for my liking. Well, I have 364 days more to make 2009 better than 2008.
So what can I do in 2009?
The year of the Ox is coming around the corner by 26th January 2009. The Ox symbolises a hard worker. It may very well be ominous that we are going into the Ox year as the recession is expected to hit hard and the only thing we can all do is work harder and work smarter.
Recession or no recession, 2009 will be my year of reckoning. Come what may.
The important thing is to strive and to preservere.
My Flickr Pictures
Jan 1 – Time really flies. While sitting back to reflect for the past year, one would always reminisce on the good times. I always try to capture the good times on my digital camera so that it would invoke the memories. I share these pictures in Flickr and my 10 most memorable pictures from my Flickr account are as per below;
My Creation of Beer Bottles – Most Viewed 11,460 views.
Something I created out of boredom and had the most views in Flickr
Bromo Volcano – Viewer’s Favorite – 22 and Most Comments – 70.
Was a great trip and truly one of the most spectacular sight I have seen.
Children In Bangkok – Voted As Most Interesting By Flickr
I wonder why but this picture was chosen as most interesting by Flickr
Bukit Tinggi Colmar Village – Favourite Malaysian Scene -11 by Flickr
It looks better in picture than in real life and the place in now in disrepair.
My Favourite City Skyline Shot – Dubai U.A.E.
The dessert air made the scene looked so unreal.
My Favourite Road Trip – Sapa, Vietnam
An unbelievable trip on motorbikes through the mountain pass of Tram Ton.
My Favourite Malaysian Destination – Cameron Highlands
Has always been a favourite place for me. I just love the cool air.
My Favourite People Shot – Sapa, Vietnam
Suu was a friendly Hmong girl who followed us thorough our trek.
My Most Memorable Journey – East Africa
Most memorable as it was the journey where I broke my left arm and my right hand.
Have some unfinished business there and will want to revisit this place one day.
My Most Memorable Stay – Manila, Philippines
Lastly but not least, my stay in Manila will always be a special part of me.
The Year 2008
December 31, 2008 – The year 2008 came and will be gone in a matter of hours. It has been a good year with its usual ups and downs. It was less turbulent as compared with 2007 but equally memorable. There are many personal highlights of which my top ten would be:-
1. Meeting New People – Since joining a Facebook group in exploring waterfalls, we have met numerous new friends who are young and positive. We have met people who would go out and enjoy life and not arm chair addicts who sit back and complain about life.
2. Controlling my lumber degenerative disease and heel bursitis – With the increased physical activities, I have managed to minimise the acute back pains and also the heel problems which I experienced in 2007. A year ago, I was worried that I would be semi mobile by 2009 with all the pain I experienced. By 2008 has given me hope that 2009 could be better.
3. Outdoor Trips – We finally did more trekking and more outdoor trips in 2008 than we ever did ptiot tp 2008. Before 2008, we would have factored 3 or 4 treks or outdoor trips for the year as a target activity. But in 2008, we have accomplished trips/treks to Broga Hill (2x), Bukit Sapu Tangan, Lata Kijang (2x), Maxwell Hill, Kg Kuantan, Gunung Senyum (3x), Gunung Jebak Puyuh, Sg Lembing, Lata Berkelah, Tanglir Falls, Lata Khong, Sg Ampang Waterfalls, Gunung Berembun, Gapoi Falls, Lata Charok, Perdik Falls, Sg Chongkak, Lata Denkong and Pos Brook. I wouldn’t have believed I would be doing so much if you asked me in January 2008.
4. Visit to Tehran – My visit to Tehran, Iran in May 2008 was an eye opener. Iran is definitely not what the media has stereotyped. I found Iranians to be very warm, friendly and open.
5. Camping in the wilderness – We have overcame our initial apprehension about camping in the wilderness and we had a fabulous time camping in Lata Kijang. It was an experience with nature that no media can replace.
6. Ushering in 2008 – we started 2008 with a big bang by celebrating at the Beach Club with another couple. We consumed one bottle of whiskey and half a bottle of brandy between the four of us and 1st January 2008 really start on a great note and gave us the momentum to continue.
7. Trekking for Raflessia – The Rafflesia trip was also a great hightlight for the year. Sleeping out in an open temple stage in the cold of Cameron Highlands, walking in the rain to the pasar malam, trekking in the mud, coming across dead musang and tiger paw prints, swimming in the cold waterfalls and finally finding the Rafflesia Kerri, all made up an unforgetable adventure.
8. Trekking in Gunung Jebak Puyuh – Just the two of us, trekking through the leech infested jungle of Jebak Puyuh. It was so peaceful and we were really close to nature and to imagine that the Pahang State Government has sold to YTL the rights to build a cement plant in the middle of a Forest Reserve.
9. Winning a 10 year law suit - I finally won on behalf of my company a ten year law suit against a Yemeni trading house for abandoning our cargo in Syria. It was a ten years long legal battle of many court postponements and change of lawyers.
10. Industry Changes – While 2008 was a great year for personal accomplishments, it was not favorable for any career advancements or betterment. I saw a stagnant market and many acquisitions within the MDF industry. Merbok was sold to Dongwha. Hume and Takeuchi was sold to Evergreen. While others grew or consolidated in size, my company remained a single entity and we will have to battle against more challenging odds in 2009. But I view 2008 as an highlight as it is not always that we get to see a whole indutsry change in one year.
It has been a fabulous year and I do look forward to a better but more challening 2009.
New Chow Kit
Dec 1 - The Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Zulhasnan Rafique announced big plans to build new roads and walkways costing more than RM 60 million in efforts to boost the image of Chow Kit Road and restore it to its former glory as a tourist atraction for Kuala Lumpur. He further added that the Kuala Lumpur City Hall along with 21 government agencies, including the Royal Malaysian Police, the National Anti Drug Agency, Rela and the Fire Department will join forces to clean up Chow Kit. The deputy OCPD of Dang Wangi Superintendent Sulaiman Salleh said during the same news conference that the crime rate in Chow Kit had decreased since last year.
Listening to such news would not attracted much reaction from most readers who are so used to such announcements which serves to justify expenditure. Only the naive would be excited and would be gullible enough to believe it as the truth. But I am sick and tired of such propaganda.
1. How would new roads and walkways help boost the image of Chow Kit Road? What is the long term city planning for the area? Will it be for a shopping haven or entertainment centre? Without planning, what could we expect? Would tourists be attracted to visit Chow Kit to see what left of the clean up exercise?
2. On what basis can Sulaiman Salleh claim that crime rate in Chow Kit has dropped as compared with the previous year. Only recently Syed Albar reported that the police is moving their police station out of Chow Kit because it was too dangerous. Undoubtedly, this statement was retracted later but most of us were left unconvinced. What was the truth? Perhaps, the police manning the station in Chow Kit were holed up inside because it was too dangerous to partrol outside. That would explain the drop in crime reports.
3. There are big plans to clean up the area involving 21 government agencies but why now? If crime rate is indeed down, do they need to announce such a plan to clean up the area. If there is a real need to clean up the area, why now? Has it not been done before? If it has been attempted before, how could we succeed where others had failed?
Cleaning up Chow Kit cannot be done by just chasing the prostitutes, the addicts, the illegals, the unlicensed vendors away. Chasing them is not solving the problem. These people will look for a new location to run their businesses. They will just move down the road to Jalan Ipoh or Sentul. There has to be concrete plans to rehabilitate the society in Chow Kit. The change is not overnight. The change is not just building some new roads.
I am skeptical. I think Chow Kit will be still Chow Kit in two years time. I will eat my words then if Chow Kit becomes our new tourist attraction because of the new roads.
Sg Ampang Waterfalls
Nov 2, 2008 – It was our second outing with the Waterfalls Survivors. Rendezvous was set for 7.00 a.m. at the Zoo Negara car park but as usual Malaysians tend to be tardy. The numbers finally came to a total of 34 before we proceed for breakfast in Kg Kemansah at 8.00 a.m.
The old faces from the first outing were Joe, Leo, Hong, Nur, Harris, Mandy, Esther, June Yee and Gary. Amongst the new faces whose names I could remember were Ee, Ben, Vaani, Lian Kee, Soo Wei, William, Andy, Thomas, Elaine, Alexx, Mei San, Louie, Chee Wyi, Sean, Jin Chang and Alind.
Our destination for the day was the Sg Ampang Waterfalls. To get to the waterfalls, we had to travel through the side road beside Zoo Negara. After about 3 km, the road ends on top of a hill where the Institut Budaya Baru Melayu (IBBM). There is no choice but to bypass the property of IBBM, in order to get to the trail to waterfalls. We were charged RM 10 per person use a 75 meter stretch of land to get to the trail. Being ardent waterfalls fans, we paid the highway fee of RM 340 despite the feeling of being fleeced.
From IBBM, it was a brisk trek through some secondary jungle and a bamboo forest before we come to a fork junction. We took the left turn and proceed until we reached a camp site. After the camp site, there was another fork where we took the right trail to get to the 1st waterfalls.
The 1st waterfalls was a small one without sufficient space for a group of 34.
After a picture stop of the gushing waters against the morning sunlight and of an abundant fruit tree, we left for the second waterfalls. We backtracked about 30 meters and took a right up hill trail which took us up beyond the 1st waterfalls. From there, we started our river trekking.
It was truly an interesting experience as we had to navigate up and down boulders while slogging our way through one to three feet deep of flowing waters. The shades provided by the jungle foliage overhead and the chilly cool waters made the journey most pleasant.
We soon reached the 2nd waterfalls
We had to go through a trail upwards to get to the 3rd waterfalls. This was the spot where we were swarmed with leaches. They were everywhere but since there were 34 of us, the feeding grounds for the leaches were pretty widespread and the damage was minimal.
From the 3rd waterfalls, we had to hike up a 60˚ slope to get to the 4th waterfalls. At certain parts, we had to go on all fours but surprisingly 32 of us made it without a problem. A pair of love birds opted to stay behind at the 3rd waterfalls for their quiet time together.
Thanks to Thomas and his GPS, we managed to take a short-cut from the 4th waterfalls to main jungle trail which took us back to the camping site.
Overall, it was great river trekking experience and a real leech extravaganza but most memorable of the trip was the oportunity to new friends.
