Father's Day Ride

How did you spend your sunday? Well for me, I wake up 5.45am bright and early yesterday. After packing cloths and drinks + my bike, off I went for breakfast at 3rd mile together with my biking buddies. A friend was suppose to join me but he chicken out the last minute. Feels like it has been a while since my last ride and before the breakfast was finished I told vincent and ah wee from the timberwolves that it should be a 50km ride.......

Started driving around 7 and arrived at selayan at 8am. Weather was perfect, cool and breezy. There was 7 of us, crazy mike, huat, vincent, yung sin, wee, vincent's cousin and bee king. 1st hour of riding was quite good as we ride on sandy open track. The going gets bit tough as we started to climb some hills. Though I have remain active the last couple of months without much cycling, I still find climbing the hills tough. Riding pass single track, suspended bridges, rubber plantations, streams before getting lost in the oil palm plantation for an hour. Luckily ah wee was able to find a track out and we finish around 3pm.

It was a fun day overall and I look forward for our next ride again.

Night ride & Evening kayak

16th May 07 night at 7.30pm, together with mike, huat, ah tat and me, setting off from hero's memorial on a cool night heading towards Santubong on our mountain bike. Cycling thru waterfront, petanak, ang cheng ho road, toll bridge, kgs, semariang then Santubong bridge. Enjoyed the cool breeze when standing on the top of bridge while looking at the city skyline far away. After some persuasion we heads towards Santubong. Surprise to meet Richard on his bike when we reach Buntal. Then together we cycle all the way to Damai Holiday Inn. Riding down one of the hill, I think I must have reach 60km/hr. Wa la.....

The purity, cool and freshness of the air is something that always bring me to cycle this part of the road time and time again. We set off from Damai around 10:45pm back towards Kuching. Spent some time resting on Santubong bridge again and I promise to myself that I will definitely do this again. The last 15km of the ride is really a struggle. Mike took a nap on the grass under Dbku building. We managed to reach open air market around 12:50am. Total distance covered 70km. Had "bak moi" with 2 eggs. Yummy!!



Went kayaking with Richard on 17th May around 5pm from Santubong towards "pek mo" island. Took us 35mins to kayak the distance against current. The view of the majestic Mt Santubong, with blue sky and perfect weather was awesome. We rested and waited for the sun to set and kayak back to Richard's house. The stunning view of the sun set was beyond words. Now I know, there is more to Kuching than Laksa and kolo mee!!! Drop me a line if you are interested, I will bring you to Heaven in Kuching.

Mt kk

I had the pleasure of climbing Mt kk, the tallest mountain in South East Asia on 19th April 2007 with Brian, 2 of Brian's friend from Singapore, Penghulu Lim, and about 10+ hashers from padawan. It was my first ever attempt on a mountain of this height. I remembered a few years ago when Richard ask me to climb Mt Santubong I have to always excuse myself, citing reasons of time, fitness, family, etc etc.

This trip was not really a "planned" one as I only confirm with CV penghulu Lim about 2 months before the actual climb and there was a mix up that in the end 5 of us end up without a bed to sleep on at the base camp.

We fly into kk by AA on 16th April morning. We took a van up to the mountain and checked into Rose Cabin Lodge. It was simple accommodation with basic amenities but we do enjoy the veg garden and flowers around the lodge. We tried to hitch a hike to a town further down the hills with some of the guys trying to show their thigh to would be good Samaritans to entice them to take us but without success. In the end we just hired another van. Along the way we were captivated by the imposing peaks of the mountain. I went to bed early after drinking a bottle of Guinness.

Woke up early Tuesday to enjoy the sunrise and manage to take some very nice pictures. For those who have not climb mt kk before, there are 2 tracks up to Laban Rata, Masilau and Timperhon. We took the longer Masilau tracks, starting off at 8.45am. I decided not to try to take my backpack (weighing 8kg) myself but pass it to a porter. I think he carried around 25kgs. Some of our fellow climber tried carying their packs up themselves only to pass it to the porter after struggling half way thru, but penghulu did carry his all the way up.

The view going up Masilau track was fantastic as the vegetation change from tall rain forest trees to "bonsai" with hair growing on the branches. We pass thru suspension bridges, creeks, up and down hills with temperature getting cooler and clouds appearing and disappearing very fast. Luckily we were blessed as there was no rain. I walk at my own pace, only resting for very short period of time. When I feel tired I just walk in smaller steps and slower pace, others were rushing as if they are doing their weekly hash. I managed to reach LR, the base camp at 2:15pm. With legs very tired, hungry and thirsty after five and half a hour climb. Rushed into cafe to order some food Aaaaaaa.

I was feeling very tired and was looking and waiting for a place to rest. As I do not have a bed available, I have to sleep on the floor with sleeping bag. Meanwhile trying to get myself a shower only to find out that they have run out of hot water. So only wash my face and wipe myself with freezing water. %$#^&@. Luckily I found a good spot to sleep, rather than sleeping in between 10 guys on bunk beds, all sweaty and tired cramp into rooms with boots after the climb.

Crash out early that night and woke up around 2am the next day. Hashers were a noisy early bunch. I had some light breakfast, pop in 2 panadols (for altitude sickness) and off we went to tackle the summit at 2.45am. There were so many climbers that there was jam at the initial climb, with lights illuminated by the torches it looked interesting. Again climb slowly but consistently in small steps while breathing deeply. I managed to get to the top at around 5:40am, just in time to see the sunrise. Ye Ha ................... I finally made it.

The view of the sunrise was just amazing. The orange and yellow of the sunrise was as usual, but the blue's was just awesome. With the colours changing rapidly, I managed to take some good shots.

The first person to reach the top was a monk from China Fuzian province, and he even carry his back pack up the summit, weighing 20 over kg. I had the pleasure getting him to pose for me for a photos on top of mt kk.

For those of you who could never imagine climbing it, an advice from me, "you can if you set your mind onto it". I am already thinking of climbing it again soon.

The trip down the mountain was not as smooth for me as my right thigh starts to stiffen up. I managed to reach the bottom via Timperhon trail the last (among my group). Exhausted, we go directly to kk after checking out the lodge.

Surprisingly my legs was ok, not like some previous climber's description of pain and sufferings after the climb. We took a flight the next day back to Kuching and was really glad that I have done my 1st climb of Mt. Kota Kinabalu, the highest peak in SEA.

Hot hot mtb

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Wake up 45 mins late today at 6.40am. Rush to get things ready for mtb riding together with the Pbds group at Kampung Stungkor, 50km from Kuching Lundu road. Managed to have breakfast with the Explorers at 3rd mile corner kopitiam before driving there.

When we arrived there were already quite a few riders and soon more arrived. Some with bikes hang behind their sedans and some behind their double cabs. We started off slightly late at 8:50am. The whole group consisting of different races, malays, ibans, dayaks, chinese and 1 "ang mo" went rumbling down, all in all counted to be 55 riders.

Its has been about 2 months since my last ride and I thought after going on hiking and climbing mountain I thought it would be a breeze to ride again but I soon found that I have to struggle to catch up and at one point the sky looks "o te am tae".

After trying out hiking, road biking, kayaking and climbing I still find mtb to be one that I like best as the terrain is unpredictable, the weather can be challenging and mtb bikers are a fun lot to struggle with.

Kayaking

My first kayaking experience was when we went camping with Richard, Ken and Ainsly with wifes and children and all together also with Chuan and Chee Sing who didn't spend the night, at Satang Island over the gawai holidays last year. We hauled along 2 orange kayak with speed boat. We pedalled around with the kayak, then Richard with nat and me with sam and sabrina went pedaling according to Richard "its just around the corner". And we pedalled until we reach the same spot, all the way around the island..... Dam exhausted, I kissed the island when I step foot back on it.





One week after that on my birthday, I was given a surprise that one of the kayak actually belongs to me! An early birthday present...... I was not too enthusiast ed then as I was not into it. A few weeks later we (my friends at countryvale) were invited to a rafting trip from kampong Danu to kampung Git. It was interesting as the water was shallow and crystal clear and inches deep at some places. We went for a trial run, and on the actual rafting competition. I brought along my kayak, together with my other friends. We had a really fun time....





We, had many trips up river after that. One trip during a rainy day with Megan, Jinny, crazy Mike, Richard and Me all the way from Ana Rais to Samadang, where it was the very first time we try on the route. Not knowing what to expect, we thought we will finish the trip in 3 to 4 hours. We left mike's car downstream at Samadang then drove up to Ana Rais with our 3 kayaks. The stream upriver was quite small, fast flowing and many fallen bamboo blocking the way. Mike found it difficult as he kept on overturning and unable to get back on his kayak. So I swap my kayak with him as mine is a 2 person kayak and is more stable. We had a scary moment when mike with the double kayak almost went under the bamboo in the fast flowing current. We had quite a few fun, exciting and scary moments when going down a few rapids, one where every kayak overturned. We finally reach Samadang 6 hours later. After getting the kayak up the banks, mike gave us a "good" news that he left his bloody keys in my car at Ana Rais..... Ha. (well who can blame him, that young fella is only 28 years old). Luckily we managed to get someone to drive us up stream for a small fee....








Few weeks after that my parents, sisters and inlaws and I went on a short trip, renting kayak from Francis, pedalled from Bengoh to Samadang. Was fun to see that my mum and dad and everyone enjoyed the trip.


Since then I have bought myself 2 more kayaks. One perception double in lime green and another is a sit in sea kayak and have gone on many trips to see dolphins, sunset kayak from boat club to Santubong etc...





After I started mountain biking and kayaking, there seems never enough time within a week, especially holiday and Sunday. Recently I have also started climbing mountain, hiking and some hashing, but that's another story!!

Samatan 717

Bought my 1st mountain bike many years ago while big bro collin was still around. Together with him and other bikers riding around town for a few times but never really got off seriously. Then about a year ago, I went riding to pasir pandak from home with Eugene and Franky and kayak after that. Couple of weeks later I ride from home to kampung santubong with Andrew and Eugene. Was surprised that I could ride further to damai beach, going up and down the hills. Thereafter every ride is a ride for me to challenge. After that Eugene and me went on rides to rambungan, for about 70km. Started early but under the hot blazing sun when we were rescued by out wives. Couple of weeks later we went riding from 10th mile to borneo highlands foothills, up and down many many hills early in the morning with Brian. Again rescued by Jinny as the sun was too over bearing.

Thereafter I was hooked after trying out the real stuff, going off road. Up and down rough hills, riding on bumpy and sometime tracks that was well, non existent at all. Joined the Explorers group. With riders ranging from thirties to late fifties, rides was not too difficult. But crazy Mike came up with riding 100km for charity with riders from other groups on 7/1/07.

We started early that day, around 7am from Camp Pueh, Samatan. First 30+ km was on road to Lundu. After resting for a while, we started our route back to Pueh via the rough and tumble grinding through the terrain, up and down hills. Pushing when its just too steep and down hills that I wonder what if my brake fails! But the most challenging part was again the blazing sun on the white sand, where everybody pray for rain that never come. I remember Kee said, "the half way point is just around the corner". We didn't get there until one and half hour later. I managed to finish the whole route though was the last to arrived. All in all it has been a challenging and rewarding ride I have ever tried not to mention the fund raising was so successful, a brand new van was delivered to Sarawak Children Cancer Society a few weeks later. Maybe next year we can try 200km!! Ha ha.

Some photos of the rides is attached here. You are welcome to join! We ride every Sunday or public holiday whenever we can.

camping

Went camping with the kids and wife, cw maid for 2 nights over the labour day holidays. Invited quite a few friends but non make it to spend the night. It was so nice that I think we should do it much more often. The last time I was there was exactly one year ago.

Went kayaking by myself from camp site to Union retreat early in the morning at 6.30am. Didn't have energy to padel back as it was against tide, luckily able to get wife to come to the rescue and went back by 4wd, with kayak on top. Had a good time playing frisbie with michael, simon, ainsly and donny when they came to visit on 1/5/07.

Chuan, Megan and the kids came in the late afternoon to enjoy body surfing, sunsets and dinner at the most beautiful location we have ever seen in Sarawak. Look at the picture of the sunset cw full moon. You guys should not have missed it. Well next time!