skytrex adventure @ taman pertanian malaysia, shah alam
As some of you already know, I have the unfortunate tendency of saying ‘yes’ to some things before giving them much thought. That was how I ended up doing the SkyTrex Adventure a couple Sundays ago with some of my OBC friends. I had no idea what it was… something about ropes, dangling wires, dangling planks, up to 22m above ground…
What’s more, we ended up registering for the Extreme Challenge. BootCampers mah, damn fit mah, lansi mah, can do more mah… Never mind that the brochure recommends that you do the Big Thrill before going for the Extreme. Haiyah, two or three additional challenges only what… can one lah!
Bloody hell. SkyTrex was a huge slap in the face for me ok. Perhaps I didn’t show it, but I went home feeling rather deflated and disappointed with myself for not being able to complete all the challenges. That’s right, I cheated. Didn’t take the chicken exit, but I skipped about 5 challenges which according to my friends who completed them, were the toughest of all the challenges. Thinking back, I don’t think I could have done them then. Maybe next time lah. Errr next time? Probably never, lazy already.
After we were geared up and shown how to use our harnesses and cables, we had an easy trial run before our first challenge. Those were damn easy, I skipped and hopped through them. Hah little did I know.
The first challenge was hauling your arse up a long-ass ladder made of massive PVC pipes. We were stuck there for a while because there were 21 of us, and only one person could go up at one time. Some of them made it look so easy, e.g. Yati, Hafiz’s wife. So I tried to copy her style but massive phail, unfortunately. You’re supposed to kick yourself up to get to the next rung, right? Well I ended up using my arms a lot because gravity can be unkind.
The second challenge was a long flying fox across the stream. To me, it was the second most difficult challenge because I have a slight fear of heights. I got up there, prepared myself to fly (so to speak) but somehow my legs wouldn’t cooperate. Want to go, don’t want to go, legs akin to trembling jelly, wondering if I could just go home now, wondering wtf was I doing there on a Sunday morning when I could be sleeping or eating bak kut teh…
Then I heard my name being screamed from far below. I could make out Farhanah from OBC KL Alpha’s face and voice as she encouragingly urged me to take the next step forward. It was by coincidence that some of the OBC KL platoon recruits were doing SkyTrex on the same day as us, though at a later time.
Okay lah. Squat down… buttocks back, lean forward and… FLYYYYyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!!11111111
Damn fun lor.
My arms nearly gave way at the 2nd massive ladder up. It was the longest and most difficult for me and it took everything I had to get to the top. As Fireangel was at the same station as me, she took the ladder with the smaller PVC pipes and I took the one with the large massive pipes. That killed.
Another flying fox, and I decided to take a short cut because I couldn’t balance myself at the hanging barrels. I could see Bev et al struggling at the more difficult challenges. So I zipped through a flying fox to a station where a tiny ladder was waiting for us and ended up following behind Tate and his fiancée.
The rest of it was actually pretty okay. The only parts that hurt after that were my hands because the RM3 gloves we bought were sucky and only covered half our fingers. If you’re planning to do this, I suggest that you bring your own, better gloves (not made of cotton though).
Sorry, not much details of what we did because I’m in the process of blocking the painful ones out 
Also not a lot of photos of us in action because I didn’t bring my camera while doing the challenges. But here’s one of my bruised and battered left arm…
Whine whine whine. Okay lah it looks worse than it actually is, heh. Well, at the end of the day I had fun. Might not do it again because I’m a lazy @#&*@#, but at least I did (some of) it! Hehehe thanks people 
For more information on SkyTrex Adventure, check out the website here. If you ask me anything not already listed on the website, I’m most likely to ignore you
food related quick notes
1. Chynna, Hilton Kuala Lumpur
Was invited to sample Chynna, Hilton Kuala Lumpur’s March promotion of freshwater fish, caught from the rivers of Pahang, Perak and Sarawak. We were presented with 3 styles of cooking – Steamed Pineapple Fish, Yellow Curry Patin King and Spicy and Sour Patin King. Had a jolly good time entertained by Chef Lam who was most gregarious. Eric blogged about it here.
2. MAS CNY dinner @ Crocodile Farm Seafood Village Restaurant
I was reminded by the MAS team that the last time I saw them was last year’s CNY. Heh, so I told them that I’d definitely make it for their CNY dinner next year, if invited
Just a relaxed, casual dinner where we caught up with some friends. I’m sure you can name them in the photos below.
3. CNY reunion dinner at home in Batu Pahat
Mom cooked up a storm and I was very happy, because she hardly cooks for us these days. Something about enjoying life and so on, bah!
4. 1st day of CNY breakfast
As per our Foo Chow tradition, we have mee suah in rice wine and chicken to mark important celebrations. Birthdays, etc. Definitely one of my favourite things to eat, and I’m glad that my sister learnt how to cook it so I don’t have to.
original bootcamp malaysia: bring-a-friend days
Most OBC recruits would agree with me that ‘Bring A Friend Days’ (BAF) stand as one of their favourite sessions. BAF is usually at the end of the third week of the month, and recruits can bring non-recruits to participate in the session for free. You know, to get a taste and feel of what Original BootCamp Malaysia is like.
It is safe to say that most OBC recruits are addicted to the programme like a healthy drug. Outside of OBC their passion for the programme often spills over and they would try to spread the word, so to speak. Family and friends who are out of the loop would wonder what the heck this whole OBC business is about, and may be forced persuaded to sign up for BAF. I suspect it is also to shut their overenthusiastic loved ones up
Come BAF days, there would be a line of non-recruits in their athletic gear, some looking forward to the session and some looking just miserable. After the first 30 grunts, their misery would increase ten-fold and some would be cursing their recruit friends for making them wake up so early in the morning for this.
So we were at the mamak last Saturday after our BAF session. My partner, a fit-looking guy ‘fessed up and told me that initially he had his doubts about the intensity of the programme. You know, because a lot of existing recruits do not look fit at all. We do come in various shapes, ages and sizes. But that BAF session proved him wrong.
Hahaha. Of course we were happy lah. If he would join OBC regularly, I have no doubt that his fitness level and stamina would increase and he’d eventually be a Delta within a month or two.
But for that BAF session, it was a boost to our egos so let us have our moments.
happy chinese new year!
… to you, you, you and you And Happy Valentine’s Day too, if you’re into that sort of thing.
Will be going home in a few hours, coming back next week.
Be well, stay safe. Let me know if you have too many ang pows and too few receivers.
xpress band @ zeta bar, hilton kuala lumpur
By 3pm yesterday I was a walking zombie. I had only an hour’s sleep the previous night, not for the lack of trying. Went back at 5pm and slept till 8.30pm, moped around a bit then decided to join Eric, Jac, Haze and FA at Zeta Bar, Hilton KL. Suddenly got this burst of energy lah, what to do.
Last month FA, Reta and I were at Zeta Bar because we just suddenly felt like dancing. The band then was quite #fail. From what I understood last night, we weren’t the only ones who thought so, heh. This month they flew in a 7-piece band from America, called Xpress. My first impression was that the only female in the band was damn hot. Things were looking good already. Sorry lah, I can be shallow like that
Not only did the Xpress band looked good, they played good. Marc Lajoie (band leader, drummer), Kris Bradley (lead vocalist), Patrick McLaughlin (lead vocalist), Allen Simms (lead vocalist), Caulder Nash (keyboardist), Joseph Filipow (guitarist) and Marc Veilette (bassist) had great chemistry among themselves and with the crowd. Energetic, can sing, can play instruments, can move, can interact with the crowd = winners.
With FA and Jac
The Xpress band is currently performing at Zeta Bar, Hilton KL from now until end of April 2010. You can catch them from Monday – Saturday, 9.30pm onwards. I recommend that you do ‘cos they were really good! The only time I was sien was when they sang Bon Jovi’s It’s My Life, because I personally detest that song. Other than that, everything was brilliant and I had a great time.
With Patrick McLaughlin of Xpress
So after the band was done with their sets, I managed to camwhore with Patrick McLaughlin who was very sexy on stage. Then in my state of inebriation, I gushed to him that he looked like Michael Stipe. Now that I am sober and wide awake, that was stupid thing to say. I mean, what good can there be telling him that he looked like Michael Stipe? Just because he sings and he’s bald? WTF is wrong with me? Bodohnyer…
Next time I’m high, just tape my mouth, thanks.