King of Fruits...

I was in Melaka yesterday for a supposedly site inspection.

Came out from KUTKM at 1730 hours and was about to turn left towards Ayer Keroh when i noticed this auntie on the road side selling Durian.

I admit. I got durian fetish. it started when my mum consumed too much durians when she was pregnant with me, that when i was borned, i had a big boil on the edge of my tailbone. The boil burst after a few months and until today, i still have scars to prove for that.

Back to the durians. I made a U-Turn at the Petronas station further up. I noticed a few stalls selling durians as well. At RM1 per kilogram, it is a steal. Nevermind it is kampung durian and not those fancy hybrid like Raja Kunyit or D44 or D24 or D-whatever-anderson type. As long as it is thorny, smelly and need some force to open them up...i'm game for it.

I stopped by the road side after making anohter U-Turn as the auntie was wayyy to close to the road, and i do not want to risk being runned down by the passing lorries at that place.

I ran across the road, the auntie gave me a smile.

Stupe: Auntie, ci-kilo ahn cuah buey? (Auntie, one kilo how much)
Auntie: Ci-kilo, Ci-kor (One Kilo, one ringgit)
Stupe: Auntie, wa hampalang sapu ka liao, nuar chuey lui? (Auntie, if i take all, how much???)

She proceed to weight them with her scale and i told her in between our conversation that she need to choose the good ones for me.

She proceeded to choose them and set aside some that has holes bitten by squirrels and some that looked dodgy because of worm holes.

The total was 21kg, and she asked me to take everything, including the one she set aside.

I agreed.

Look, i'm a sucker for durian. Spoilt or not spoilt, i'm sure that there must be at least 30% in those spoilt fruits that is still edible.

She helped me put all the durians in the gunny sack and i took them into my car. I separated the spoilt ones in anohter big plastic bag i had.

We talked furhter and she asked me if i'm married (does that meant that she will introduce her daughter to me) and where i'm from.

I told her KL...and she was surprised that i came so far to buy durian. I told her it is for my parents and family.

I took out RM30 for her, i do not want to shortchange the auntie. She rode a motorbike with those 30kg of durians on her back to be sold by the roadside to make ends meet. if she is my mother, i do not want to see her doing that as well, so my other intention when i told her i wanted to sapu all, was because i wanted her to go back and rest...she's old, circa 60, at least.

She declined and said she "pai ser" (Shy in hokkien) and took only RM20 from me. I gave her an extra RM5 because i told her she needs to pay for her motorbike petrol and maintainece as well.

Anyway...i had a really enjoyable ride back with the loads of durian in the backseat of my small car.

The smelly smell to some was heaven to me. Until i reached the overhead bridge restuarant that i found out the smell was overwhelming. By the time i reached Sg Besi toll about 90 minutes later, i was almost high...my eyes watery and my nose can't even smell of the exhaust fume being blown into my face by the lorry at the next toll.

I called Steve to tell him i'll come over to TTDI to pass them some durians...only to reach home at about 7.45pm because of some vehicle that broke down on the fast lane near Sri Petaling...

And here is how the bounty looked like...

I counted 15 here.


the same lot, to to make sure there is 15.


There is anohter 6 inside this bag. Supposedly to be spoilt, but nothing stops me from eating them!

As they said...you can't have too much of a good thing, when it comes to Durians!!!!

ps- the so called spoilt durians was actually very good. Only the bad parts were thrown, the dodgy looking part was tasted before consumed (yes, i ate two which was already bad...and spit them out...such gluttony!!!)

Subang Jaya 10km Run.

What a race.
Never mind the race wasn't organised properly. First, the organisers shouldn't had allowed cars to move out of the MPSJ area right before the race starts. I was retying my shoe laces when this car almost nudge me as he was driving out of the place. Then, of all people, the Polis happily drives out, and the ultimate was when The Paper that Cares decided to drives out as well, to the jeers and boos from the participants...heck, even a few SAAA(Selangor Equivalent of FTAAA) was seen riding their Motorbike out of the place, oblivious to the participants that had gathered right at the starting line.
OK, back to the report.
11 of us, from the Average Joes/Dumbass team joined the race. Doc, Steve, Amir, Dhamsal, Azmar(first 10km race), Bacin, Rahim(veteran), Don, Zabil and Wife, Bean and me, of course signed up for the race. We were at BSN in USJ taipan by 6am. Bacin was the first one there, i was there with Aileen and also Amir. A few minutes later, Azmar came in his super long slung easy rider that he brought back from US of A. It was until much later that the Zabils turned up, and Doc showed up offering us coffee at his mother's place right opposite the road from Taipan.
Then, in the darkness, we saw 2 flikering lights, it was Don and Rahim, our super athlete that cycled all the way from Taman Tun to USJ for the run! The are planning to do a reverse Duathlon, instead of Run-Cycle-run, the did a Cycle-RUN-Cycle...well done to them!
Steve and Bean was no where in sight still as Steve told Doc he was on his way at 6.45am. Adilah wasn't insight as well and Dhamsal was waiting for us at the MPSJ building area.
At 7am, we all walked towards the stadium, passing by some morning market where we were cheered on like some heroes that is going to defend the country's pride in some run. That was when we saw Bean driving in to the designated car parking place.
Upon checking in at the respective counter, we still did not see Steve. And this is how blur everyone looked in the early morning.

Dr. Amir...still high after his last ciggie before the race

Bacin...he needs to send his kids for Tae Kwon Do later...

Zabil...doing some face stretching

Azmar Mat Rock...his first 10KM race

Doc..he needs more coffee..or was it some sly grin because he saw some chics in tank tops?

The crowd at starting line...obviously still blur...
The race started at 7.30 sharp. Some big shot that woke up that morning flagged off the race. IN no time, the whole USJ was flooded by human, trying to outdo, outrun, and out kill each other. Some were seen spitting or blowing their noses on the left, right and back as they were running. Some secret technique of getting rid of people around you i guessed. Some were seen running on the opposite side of the road, to get the so called *front advantage*. Me, Bacin and Zabil were pacing each other, it was tough, and it all looked like some indy/stock car race situation where everyone is jostling for position, some shoving, and some almost tripping over each other.
It was a run which I've decided before the gun went off, that i have to make this a run to record my personal best. I jokingly told the rest that I'll do a sub 50 minutes run. Which, i myself doubt that i could. A few of us has also set the target, as USJ run is on a very flat terrain...
I overtook Bacin and Zabil after the first corner and ran like i never ran before. I make mental target, every time i run pass the targeted participant, i *click* my imaginary counter (a trick that Steve thought me). I passed Summit USJ, feeling rahter good, with my heartbeat circa 150-160bpm, leg still strong and spirit high as i was had already dodged/overtooked about 30 runners after the first corner.
Then i had a very rapid *beep beep* sound coming from the back. It was Bean. His HRM is the same type as mine, albeit more canggih(sophisticated) with more functions that my car's meter. I tried to pace with Bean. I noticed he had his left leg in knee supporter. He must had injured himself. He was fast, but i decided that i should be faster, i ran, i recalled touching the max heartbeat of 179 when i overtook him finally, perhaps, it was the total accumulated heartbeat as our chest straps interfered with each other's monitor.
After the second major corner, i managed to shake bean lose. It was then another friend of mine, a long time runner, Jason, made an unscheduled race. He overtook me, at a blistering pace. I had a chat with him and he said it was rather a last minute decision to join the run.(Participant A1043). I paced with him for a good 1km, before i decided that if i go on with him at his almost 15km/h pace, I'll either collapse before i reach the 5km mark, or I'll be doing a sub 45 minutes run.
That was then also, that i realised that a long time veteran runner that we all see at TTDI park, Carmen, was always somewhere circa my pace. I decided to pace with her (well, behind her of course, i sorta can't catch up with her though) and make her my horse.
It was a good decision, i managed an average of 14km/h speed, giving my heart a constant workout of about 168-172bpm, which was my 85-90% threshold. In technical term, I'm running a 5km race in this range, building on my lactic threshold. it was something I've been doing for 2 weeks in the gym's thread mill (ok guys, now you know my secret training)
After what seems like eternity, i finally saw sight of the stadium's light. The end is near. I actually sang MY WAY as i was running to keep the spirit high. I was doing 42minutes as i passed the stadium's main entrance. BUT we need to RUN to the end of the road, before running back again. I picked up speed, at that point, i overtook Carmen. I didn't have time to thanks her for allowing me to pace with her, and i didn't even asked her permission to do so, i know, that's rude of me, but i simply can't catch her to ask for permission. Anyway, for the record, thanks Carmen!!!
Right after the U-TUrn, i saw Doc, then Steve, then Bacin...Steve came out of no where. Well done. I last saw Amir running in, cheering on for me as i returned his encouragements...thanks bro!
I entered the stadium's compound via the side gate, which in my opinion, was a bad choice by the organisers as the ground wasn't level, someone might get injured due to the ground condition. but i wasn't bothered, even should i fall on my OLD new Balance shoes that some Pacesetter members said i SHOULD disposed off(because the shoe isn't giving me the *performance/support*) and join them to get discount to buy some fancy shoes....
I ran, overtook one last few runners and timed in at 48minutes 44 seconds as i was stopped by the race official to take my number down.

There!!!
Jason was right in front of me, about 6 places in front. I saw Aileen, busy snapping pictures of Jason(she was Jason's friend first...i know him because of Aileen), oblivious to me, having to finish the race in front of my usual gang. She saw me moments later...and laughed at me...it was unexpected. Well. I know. I outdid myself. I wanted to finish the race in sub 50, and i managed to do just that.

I finished the race 1st, before everyone else, but sadly, wifey didn't think it was me, and was busy taking pictures of other people....but me...

Oh baby, there you are!!!
I finished the race in position 123, which means there is 122 people infront of me, some maybe twice my age. I missed the medal by 22 places and perhaps in mere 5 minutes(or 1km if i ran a 12km/h race). A young man, which also trains in TTDI park, Azri, did it in 42++ minutes and was placed in the 44th position. He ran a good race, he he wanted to do a 40minutes race. This chap most probably blaze the track in 16km/h!!! I also saw Azwar, which finished in 23rd position, well done!

There, A0606 finished as participant 123!!!
I was almost rested with my HR returning to 90bpm when i saw doc coming in...

Doc came in second, but was covered by that yellow (A0762)
Then Steve was strolling in

Steve came in 3rd...well done...your tactic of easy 5 and hard 5 did work for you!
Followed by:

Bacin again, did a 52 minutes...well done!!!
And his jockey...

Then Zabil...which uses Bacin as the horse...
Our faithful eye doctor from UH did ran his personal best race as well...

Dr. Amir came in next..not too far from Zabil...
Bean, although injured, managed to finished it with a smile

Pilot Bean was next...flying in in sub-55 minutes.
Then:

Don cruises in at 8th...if only if he didn't cycle to the race...

And:
Rahim, the veteran of amongst all of us...just missed the 60minutes mark.
To amplify how small the world is, Rahim actually worked with my mum in law before...we only found out when i introduced Aileen to him and he told me that she looked familiar. Aileen asked if she worked in Castrol before and...heck, i freaked out. Small world Uncle Rahim...since now you know my MIL, i better start calling you uncle... ;-)
Dhamsal finished in 10th, but i didn't managed to catch his pics as i was snapping some other pics.
Azmar came in at 11th, finishing the race in 1hr 7 minutes, which was pretty about the same time as i took in my first 10km run in PJ Half last year.

Azmar rocker and Dhamsal (A595) in the background with Amir, while being congratulated by Bacin.

Those that managed to finish in 60 minutes and below. Azri is the one in semi-cap(A859). Bean went to toilet...tummy problems.

We then waited for Zabil's wife to come in from her run...

while Bean explained to Bacin why he didn't want to overtake him this time around...

Then I poses with Steve...

And Steve tries out the umbrella that Ding's wife won coming in in position 13th in the Women's Open.

Then Adilah showed up...showing her tooth in perfect condition...still.

We then adjourned to Doc's mum's house for breakfast. Scrumptious breakfast!!! check out the pics, it's all self explanatory, really...

Talk less, eat more

Munch..munch...munch

Azrie, carbo reloading...

the two young man...

Thanks to Steve..for these Durians!!! Nope, it was bought by him, not taken from Kiara.
Everyone left on a happy note and full tummy. Don and Rahim cycled back to TTDI before the sun comes blazing through mid morning.
A very special thanks to Doc's family for being such great host and feed us athletes wannabe with those wonderful sandwiches, syrups, coffee, chicken curry, salad and company!!!
Oh ya, before i forgot...here is a pic of Doc's secret training equipment...Zabil ran out and asked me to take this pic as evidence of doc's ultra endurance...

The compromised training method, running almost vertical!
Now, i better start training harder, as it is no easy task to maintain the achievement i did yesterday.

OPPP 2005 - The Finale

Sorry for the late. Was busy over the last two days and was letting my fingers rest after much typing and clicking on pictures to update the blog.

However, by the time i finished abseiling and getting a call from OP Mike Tan about the non-showing of OPA Soccer on the field, and calling a few numbers to get that issue settled, the sky started to get darker.

OP lost the football game, the first team did not show up because they said they had a game the day before. I know the Hockey team team had a game as well, but they did show up, and did showed the boys, who is still better in Hockey. Well Done!

The last field game was going to start. Rugby has always been a traditional game in RMC.


Lets make sure the PP don't give us a run for our money!!!

The PP this year is coached by members from the Blackhawk team. One of the top notch team. The showed a lot of improvement in interschool competition by winning the Under 15 tournament. I warned some players to becareful, as it will be a tough match.


PP did the haka, moving closer to them singing lullaby was OPs...at their cheekiest best...

The game was tough and the PP showed a lot of potential. We were given a scare a few times, but experiences speaks for itself when we managed to outdo them by 2 tries.

The match was stopped middle of the second half when the siren sounded, to signal that a thunderstorm is coming.

True enough, 2 minutes later, this was what happened.


The spectator's tent was flooded in the 45 minutes chaos

My camera ran out of battery and i could take anymore pictures.

In short, the Tug Of war was called of because of the bad weather and again, as per usual, OPs won the Piala Radzi, losing only to the PP in football and chess.

Also, the Piala Tissa for cricket game was found back about a week before the game...it was supposedly missing, but later on was found by the CI, OP Nurul Azril when they searched the whole throphies room (Yes, RMC does have a room to keep throphies, we are premier school mah!!!)

Everyone went back happy, and looking forward to event of such magnitude again, enxt year.

So, Mark your calender, it will be 17th June next year for the dinner and 18th June for the OP-PP games. See you there next year!

OP-PP 2005 - Change Parade Demostration

This was the first ever time they hdd this, in full public view. In RMC, we have a multitude of punishment. We believe in group punishment and the term that we are only as strong as our weakest link.

Change Parade. It's well, aptly named this way because well, we change, not because we are supposed to change our personality, but to change our uniforms.

This is how it works.

Duty boy, usually rank holder, will be the one metting out the punishment. Usually, the names of the wrong doers are read out during lunch time and they are supposed to fall in at the basketball court in certain order(ie uniform) for punishment.

in this demostration, please bear in mind that no Present Boys were hurt, or maliciously chosen for this task. And their way of dressing does not reflect the real actual quality of what RMC boys are supposed to do. Simply said, they are doing what YOU SHOULDN'T be doing in a Change Parade.

IN the military, we have tonnes of Order, or uniform. We have No.3, No.4, Celoreng(or camoflogue), battle PT, Drill Order, Prep Order, Walking out Order, Planter's Order, Sports order and even Towel order (this one was coined by senior, you fall in only with towel around your waist).

So, without furhter ado, this is change parade, at it's worse.

But of course, before that, here is some pics i snapped before the parade.

Nizam, sitting beside the gym to see the parade


Aileen and SpiderLiaw not gonna miss it as well


Me and Anand. Anand, now please update your blog as well.

On with the Punishment!!!


They came in No.3. Duty Boy did their normal routine and gave them a piece of his mind. Giving them 3 minutes to change into Planter's Order.


2.5 minutes later...some has their ties and shoes wore wrongly!


Duty SUO check on the uniforms and for every item you wore wrongly or not up to specs, you'll have to take 10 push ups.


This joker will have his arse fried...Echo company, since when you guys took over from Alpha as the most Lopong Company?


Wait, i think Alpha is still the most lopong, check out the way he wore his tie...

The Duty SUO went on to check and gave everyone push ups for every wrong items done. He then gave them 2 minutes to come back in drill order.


less than 2 minutes later, they came back in drill order, some with their shoe laces untied and accesories worn wrongly.


This chap from Delta Company has extra yellow lanyard to denotes Commandant company ie the last year's inter company winner for sports, academic and military activities, but this doesn't reflect why they won...shame...shame...


Then this chap from Charlie company fake his fainting/seizure...only to piss the Duty SUO more


because everyone wasn't up to spec, all had to do duck walk...usually we get to do forward roll, and the sound of the drill boots hitting the tarmac and your head was unforgetable

Then, the Duty SUO gave them 2 minutes...to change to sports order...


one of the joker swapped friend. He was caught by sending out a taller replacement. it's cooperation(abeit a bit stupid) at it's best. There is simply no way to cheat your senior!!!


The Chap from Cahrlie company had to do Star Jump, ie a modified version of burpee, but you ahd to jump high enough to reach the star


Dude, you are no michael jackson, there is no BLACK or WHITE in Sports order..tsk..tsk..tsk...

The parade ended with 3 orders, but OP Azudin invited his RSM(Regiment Sargeant Major) ie his Warrant Officer to come check the boys. Because the RSM, Encik Joe, felt that the boys aren't up to mark, he decided to give them one more order...to change back to Drill order in 2.5 minutes, or else!


Encik Joe pulling on the loose belt of the boys...telling him to BUCK up, literally!


he then show the Duty SUO how to teach the boys to wear the beret properly...


which then he asked the Duty SUO to take 10, for being oblivious to that simple task. The Duty SUO gladly take 10.


Encik Joe then proceeded to impart word of wisdom to the OPs and PPs.

The change parade demo ended soon after, and OP Azudin thanked the Commandant and CI(Chief Instructor) of RMC for showing everyone why, we OP, are able to get dressed in less than 3 minutes flat, and that is even before our wives start washing off the shampoo on their hair!!!

Well done boys and thank you for the entertaining show, we OPs truly appreciate it!