A Quarter of a Century + 364 Days & Counting...

A year in review... much has happened, the blue planet has revolved yet another round, as lo and behold, the world sits upon the edge of their seats in manic anticipation of a bittersweet day... a day when day turned into night and night into day, when clocks skipped a second, and hearts skipped a beat, as the earth held its breath, as a little bundle of terror breathed his first, peeping out through sleepy eyes, and glared at the man in white who had the nerve and audacity to Buddha Palm my bare bottom, in true blue kungfu style... yes, twas the day I came to be... the bane that i am, that i am ;) Me 26th year of terror approaches in mere hours...

Happy Ancient Chinese Beast Anniversary

Allow me to take this opportunity to bid thee many well-wishes on the eve of an ancient Chinese custom... as I mark the day of the fall of a primevil beast, so fearsome and legendary, that we still observe pagan rituals of blasting firepowder, thumpin on gongs, and much hooting & hollering, all decked out in blood-red finery, to commemorate the day... Happy Chinese New Year folks ;) Shin Nen Omedetou!

Breakin Breakneck Speeds...

Boundin' over hills, ant-hills, that is, and rushin' around at breakneck speeds, has finally taken its toll... alas... it would be apparent, sadly, that me 'av finally broken me neck... *sob* Sustained what the good 'ol chap in the white garbs described, or clinically and affectionately termed as, "a really bad neck sprain... *dramatic pause* ...I'm afraid, ahem!" So here i am, trodding around with my neck in a cervical collar, minding my own business, and here's the good citizens out sniggering at me, every corner i turn, haiz... and everyone's taking pot shots at me, wife-y was poking me shoulders, brothers were jabbing my ribs, and everybody's trying to trip me... when it rains, it pours... looks like i have to do a triple-back-flip-nose-dive-pirouette-into-sleeping-buddha-half-lotus-position over some bonfire high flaming pomelo leaves, just to garner some better luck for the festive season... btw, merry x'mas pple, arg...

Unhappy Feet

"I know size can be daunting, but..." Arg! after recuperating from a swollen left toe tendon jus a month or so ago; am now the proud owner of a swollen right foot from the kiss of an unknown sea creature in the swamps of Pulau Ubin. 3 puncture wounds, sharp burning pain, shot up the foot to me ankle, to calf, to knee T_T twas suspected to be a catfish, though personally me thinks it could have been an elephant fish, cos i've now got elephant foot, eheheh ;) Dang, why me? all these freak accidents, alas, that's what life's about - keeping one on one's inflamed toes, isn't it? hardy har har... imagine this, i've only got a wee little size 9 shoe, yet lo and behold, here, to me horror and surprise i find meself with a size 10 tak-halal-pork-knuckle-looking-appendage at the end of me right leg, where me foot should be T_T Oh the horror! Jus got back from the good doctor's with a tetanus jab and whole host of antibiotics supplements ;) tis worth the pain, to be back out there in the cradle of mother nature's arms once again...

Strolling Up Gunung Tahan

Heyhey, am back from me trekking break, and 'ere be a little something I penned, whilst up on Gunung Tahan:

"A moment taken to put thoughts to paper - simple scratchings in a tent, in a forest, on a hill... this is our Tahan venture... A moment to take in the chill of the cool night - a contrast from the warmth of good food (instant or otherwise) and warm company. Many a moment shared and captured, on film, on paper; in the hearts and on the minds. Fellow instructors in a tent, fellow comrades sheltered from the cold, fellow friends amidst cheery banter, fellow journeymen on the trail to great adventure, with a common waypoint on this humble hill... A motley crew of many colours, myriad jackets and fanciful hoods, troubled tents of many sizes, soiled packs of multi-hues, and colors within, worn through... ...this is our Tahan adventure!"

was a short 9 day trip... 20-25kg packs, 3 days up to the summit, 4 days down, 1 day of caving, 1 day of abseiling, all in the name of fun, eheheh ;) all in all, twas a good pace, met the local wildlife, greedy wild boars, bloody thirsty leeches, lazy albino cave snake, scampering cave insects (cave centipedes, spiders, crickets), cave bats, and of course a bold viper perched on a tree branch on our way abseiling down the multi-pitch route ;) next stop... Mt K!