Welcome Home to me.....

22nd Sept.....

The day for me to go home after a whole hectic semester. went to meet dad at Sentral. Dragged 2 huge bags n a back pack all the way frm Wangsa to there. Supposed to go on a mission to look for the darn battery for the cordless fone at home. Low Yat cant event find it. Finally by 4.45 we were moving home.....home.....home......one word i love in the whole human vocab. Was paying at a toll gate when suddenly a group of 20+ bikers rolled tru the gates. some kawasaki's, yamaha's, honda's maybe aprilla's. Coolz.Reached home around 8.30. And the next day was a sunday.....hehe.....riding day.....skipped church ^^v (i knw im suppose to keep my Sabbath but i miss my riding with my group. I dont ride with them very often now). Sms frm Albert(group leader) said 100km.......oh.......100km??!!! I just got home, laid off my bike for few months and we are going 100 km? I wanted to go.....but i bet i will suffer. Btw route was from Sitiawan - Pantai Remis - Batu Hampar - Beruas - Ayer Tawar - Sitiawan.


23rd Sept....

Woke up at 6.15am. Prepared the bike a little. Put an extra water cage so i can take 2 bottles. Come on, 100 km. Need all the hydration i can hold. Dressed up my jersey, don my shoes n helmet. Speedometer reset for the journey. But before that, went to the nearby 7-Eleven for 100Plus. Important for long distance above 70km riding. Walked in the store wit my darn cycling shoes - *clomp clomp clomp*- tat funny sound when we walk on hard surfaces in these kind of shoes. They can kill a person by its sheer hardness. Paid for a can. RM1.80 - DUDE! Tats more expensive than KL!!! OMG!!! Not too sure abt the cashier's reaction seeing me clad in tight lycra shorts and a jersey at 6.45 am. Then zoomed to the petrol station to fill up air. And then went to Pizza Hut to wait for the guys.

7am sharp. And the calvary started to come in. one by one. Albert came with his just bought Scott bike -RM3000. Then had some new guys. A chinese guy and an Indian guy - both riding Merida bikes - RM3000. Then came Ah Ho in his Proton bike - and new Cratoni helmet. Then came Sam. Shocked me wit his new Trek 5.2 bike. Used Spinergy hubs tat looked like menacing spinning blades of death - can decapitate a mans head i tink. But most of all, he got a Giro Atmos helmet! Same darn thing Lance Armstrong uses! Well cost him a good RM535. :p The came good old Uncle Ting, runs a pharmacy. Hes abt 50 yrs. But hes fit on the bike. Seriously fit. Then came another new guy on a mountain bike. changed to skinny tires and he's ready for the road. Last guy, Dynasty shop owner a little late. hes from ayer tawar - 20 minits ride away from sitiawan. So there we have. 9 of us. had some bike chat then we set about our ride. 100km - for me its not the first time, but it is after a year haven't ridden tat distance.

9 of us. Forming a 2 x 4 line cycling on the road. I was at the back. Just soaking up the morning air. people looked at us. well its a sight for some. its rare for some to see 9 guys dressed and riding like the Tour de Langkawi in a small sleepy town like mine. As we escaped the town into the more open roads we formed 1 straight line. The Train. 9 of us. i was at the back. Shielding from the wind. let them do all the work in front. Hehe. I was trying to stick 3 inches behind the wheel of others. It can save as much as 15% of energy if u stay close enough to the rear wheel. But its been long since i rode in a close group, so i was a bit scared with being to close. Well, i was hoping they dont go above 30kmh or else i will suffer, but guess wat - they did. i mean i can manage 35 - 40 but not for todays riding. As soon we passed the big Tunku Bainun bridge to the other side, they continued flat out. I wasnt huffing and puffing - the legs just kept saying "Look here son, we aint working for u today..uh uh...no sir....ur gona die out there if u go on like this...." - So be it. I continued.

After just 30+ km my legs started to say its almost going to give up. From my speed of 30kmh i had to drop to 27kmh. And the guys kept going. Soon they were out of my sight. we havent reached pantai remis yet too. Soon i was on my own. Man.....wat a narrow lonely road. With lorries zooming pass me almost every 5 minits. And the road was bad, windy and up n downs.

Albert called asked me where was i. "Almost reaching Pantai remis. where are u?" - "Reaching Batu Hampar, remember turn right, k?" Well. I didnt knw how far they were in from of me but i was abt to find out. So i cycled at my own pace. Soon i was doing 25kmh. Slowing each kilometer. passing pantai remis my meter showed i covered 40km. I was thinkng of turning back. But im almost half way and each way is abt the same - i didnt want to go tru those bad roads and hills again. So i decided - continue. I suffer anyway.after 5 km i reach tat junction. Man, im so far behind. how will i ever catch up? The sign says 20km to beruas.......20......dreaded 20km. And i turned into wat seems a loooong loooong lonely road. And it was. Almost no car or bike in sight. Couple of houses here and there. BUt mostly i was alone. My speed dropped to 20kmh. My legs were just hurting and kept telling me to stop. Many times i felt like hitching a ride behind a motorbike and pull me along till i find the guys. But i didnt. Kept pushing. Legs say stop, heart says go.

The kilometers pass by, by then i did almost 2 1/2 hrs or riding. My butt was beginning to hurt. The sun was almost up - 9.30am. I was still far from Beruas. Another 10km. 9km. 8km. 7km. My speed gradually dipped below 20kmh. some places 15. My legs cant even pedal for a hundred meters witout taking a short rest. I doubt i cud reach home by 12 noon. 10am passed. Albert called me again. "Where are you?" - "Almost reaching Beruas i tink. Wats your meters reading? Mine is 57km" - "Ermm, wait ah, mine is 55 (laughs). "......wat the......swt.......@#%%^ "Ok ok, nvmd, we are at a makan shop behind the bust station in Beruas, we will wait u there, c ya".

I was certain i was near town. More motorcycles and lorries and cars. Thats how u tell if u were near any civilization. And i finally saw the sign board BERUAS. Time to find the guys. Found them sitting down eating curry mee, wantan mee, drinking kopi o, teh ais, barley. I just parked my bike and sat on the chair. I told them im dead. Im done. I cant go on. well they laughed. But i was really dead. I didnt want to eat. took a good 10 minute rest. We were the odd people there. Others were family and friends gathered for a usual sunday morning breakfast. Here were 9 guys in funny looking outfits on cool bikes. We fit in just nice.

After finish makan, top up more 100Plus and water. Then - RIDE!. The sign says : Sitiawan 38km , Ayer tawar 25 km. I did about 60km by now. So we went on again. 10 minits rest only enabled me to follow the guys for 10 minutes. I shouted "38 km 38 km!" Funny enough one local guy shouted at us "HAH! KAYUH LAJU LAGI! PANTAS!" Pantas my @$$ u come do 70km and see u do pantas. Then i got left behind again..........as expected. Well i did a rough calculation by now. i was about 10.30am. if i can maitain just 20kmh i should be home in abt 1 1/2 hours. Simple maths will tell u. So tat was my target. Keep a steady pace.

37km.36km.35km. Then there was no sign left to tell me how far i was from home. Based on my meter i did 65km. Each long lonely km passed by again. By now the sun was battering against me. The head wind wasnt any help at all. Each pedal stroke seemed more harder to push than the last. Just so u knw all this while i was doing in the 2 lowest gear combination. 39 x 21. Its low enough to get u up a moderate hill. i was using this on a straight road - and SUFFERING.

Soon i arrived somewhere i was familiar with. The juction tat turns to Ayer Tawar if i turn rigth. Turn left i go to Ipoh. I was SO near to home now. Its not impossible to make it. best of all, it was only 11am. ^^

I tagged a trailer and managed to keep up to 35kmh for a km or so before i got to a 24kmh speed. Tailwind helped me i guess. I could see the town right in front of me. Then Albert called again. "Where are u?". "Almost at Ayer Tawar town, u?" . "Dynasty , new shops on the left by the road side.".

I was determined to move fast. Finally reached Ayer Tawar. Meter shows almost 90km covered. Looked out for the guys. After s few traffic lights and passing the main town, i saw them gathered at a shop lot, i didnt knw the shop Dynasty was an aquarium shop. They all cheered me, waved me. I turned in left. And finally stopped. "Not bad, after 3 months still can do 100km" said Sam. I agree. i even thanked God i came this far without stopping or turning back. I got off the bike. sat down. LIED down. "Tengok suda baring sana!". Everyone laughed at me. I didnt care. I was dead tired. well my legs actually. i was still breathing good. BUt i cund walk properly. Almost wobbled about a few times. Then the indian uncle gave me some reflexology and stretching. was nice of him. Jokingly said it wud cost me RM30 an hour for services. Or a plate of nasi lemak coz need energy to massage u down. "Tapi kalau orang tu yang besar lagi lah susah. Lagi nasi lemak kena makan. Tak pa kalau lemak macam ini. Dia lembut boleh kasi tekan lagi. Tapi yang muscle keras dan besar tu yang susah oh. Tu kena pakai banyak tenaga mau kasi tekan!" LOL. he was a joker. So after a short break. The last 7 of us head home. Other two went home already.


I was certain it was over coz im almost home. Boy was i wrong. Talking to Sam. The indian guy n Albert in front of me chatting. Suddenly i see him stop pedaling. I knew he had a cramped leg. He cudnt move. And i cudnt avoid in time. It was at a relatively low speed. About 17kmh. My wheel touched his wheel. HE stopped. i fell down - to the OUTside lane where cars were. Sam avoided me. And i swear a car missed my helmet by 2 feet. I really thought my head was going to get crushed by a car or knocked by a motorbike. All this in split seconds in my mind. Then the guys behind avoided me. One ran over my rims. OUCH. I fell relatively soft. Scraped my right knee. Not a big problem. Guys came to see me and Indian guy. I was fine. MY shifter was bent inwards. My shoe got large scrapes. My wheel was out of alignment. It got ran over after all. And i tot tat wat it. Jersey was fine. Helmet ok i guess. Needed to inspect when i go home. I got right up - didnt want to end up like a frog on the road. Frog Kill. Went over to see how indian uncle was. Still a little cramped up. He apologised many times. But i said it was ok. none of us wanted it to happen. Accidents do happen. After some talk and checking we managed to get moving. I told Uncle Ting, what a way to welcome me home.


So i thought the drama was over. WRONG! Rain! Well i found out my derailuer was bent inwards so i cant go to the last big rear gear. Dang. Anyway, it poured on us. We were soaking wet. For 15 minits we got a downpour. First rain ride. MY helmet got wet, my shoes, jersey, bike. All wet. I looked up at the water dripping from the front of my helmet. well i wanted to go fast but well, leg stopped producing anymore energy. I just pedaled in the rain. Got left behind - again. but this time i was already home for sure. Meter registered 95 km. And i was almost reaching town. Ahhhh. Finally. I see those familiar buildings. The rain stops. The sun came out. And i was still dripping wet. The guys wud have been home by now. I just rolled at my own pace to home. I got home. To my doorstep. 12.07 pm in the afternoon and after 102 km or riding. took 5 hours to complete. I sat down at the doorstep thinking back at the last 100km. Later i hosed down my gear and bike. Inspected the damage done to both body n bike. All needs a wash and some repairs later. Have to deal with the sore legs and butt too. This 100km ride is over. For now...........

iBridge Camp 2007...

From Leo, one of the iBridge Camp committee people:

~o~*~o~*~o~

Dear friends,

A very good morning to you! As part of the camp's publicity, please do help us post up the following on your blogs, and also forward this to your friends ;) We've a sample post at http://ibridge2007.blogspot.com/ :)

"Have you just graduated and are looking for some directions? Or perhaps you've worked for a number of years, but yet find the transition from studying life to the working life still a challenge, a gap that leaves many things to be desired. Or maybe you've lost the luster that once was in your Christian walk, whereby the once close fellowship and passion for Christ has been replaced by an emptiness and meaningless pursuit of career.

If so, consider joining us at I-Bridge Camp 2007 this year, from October 13th to 16th, http://www.ibridge.com.my. Located in the scenic Cameron Highlands, the refreshing, fun and invigorating camp will definitely make an impact on your life. 4 days 3 nights or 3 days 2 nights (depending on your leave), we're all young, working graduates, just like you. Do hurry and sign up fast as the limited places are going fast!

I-bridge Camp is organised by I-bridge, a part of Graduates Christian Fellowship, an interdenominational Christian Organisation, part of NECF.

Thank you!

p/s: please help us post/forward this to your friends."



Thanks again, and looking forward to meeting you this October 13th!

Leo, on behalf of the camp committee
p/s: To answer some commonly asked questions
a) Yes, we can leave the camp by the 15th, after lunch (Monday) if our leaves have not approved, as the talks by the speakers end on the 15th, just before lunch.
b) If you're broke now due to being jobless or are going through some financial turmoil, but would really love to come to the camp, drop us an email at ibridgecamp2007@gmail.com and do sign up asap. We can discuss the rest later.

~o~*~o~*~o~

well, what are u waiting for then? sign up la! [if u're a young working adult, that is]. The Wife and i will be glad to see you there. =)

Posted by siehjin at 10:54 AM

Not Religion – A Relationship

Christianity is not really a religion as many think; it is a relationship with God. It is trusting in Jesus and what He did on the cross for you (1 Corinthians 15:1-4), not on what you can do for yourself (Ephesians 2:8-9). Christianity is not about ornate buildings, flamboyant preachers, or traditional rituals and rules or systems of belief. Christianity is about truly accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior.

Adapted from Mr. Kiew Sieh Jin - Sex Is Overrated

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Sex is Overrated!

... that was one of the statements i made in the 'sex and bgr interrogation' mentioned in the previous post.

last night The Wife and i were discussing it, and we are concerned that some of the youth may have misunderstood that statement... hence today's blog post.

what i DO NOT mean by that statement: sex is boring and unfulfilling. what i ABSOLUTELY do NOT mean by that statement: either The Wife or I are unattractive to each other, undersexed, or frigid. please note the NEGATIVES in the sentences above! =)

sex is great. it's funtastic. it's a beautiful, pleasurable, exciting gift that God has given us!

so, what do i mean when i say that sex is overrated?

the world around us tells us that sex is EVERYTHING. it says you're a Loser if you haven't had sex. it says that relationships are All About Sex. turn on the Radio, you hear songs about sex (my humps, anyone?). turn on MTV, u see 'artistes' almost literally prostituting themselves on screen. watch any Movie, and somehow the hero and heroine end up in bed together. (if i'm not mistaken, most movies nowadays have at least one or two nude scenes too... but we're spared that by the wonderful Malaysian Censorship Board. at least they do something right, once in a while.) look at Advertisements, they use sex to sell everything from chewing gum to cars. get onto the LRT, and you'll see girls with skirts so short that it looks like they're wearing an unusually thick belt. take a look at women's mags and men's mags in most bookstands, and you'll find articles like 'how to charm your way into his/her pants". we are INUNDATED and OVERWHELMED with millions or messages about sex everyday, saying: SEX!!! U MUST HAVE IT!!! IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT!!! DON'T MISS OUT!!!

and they are all LIES!!!

sure, sex is great. pure and wonderful, a gift from God. but dagnabit, it's not all that! trust the words of someone who's had it: it's no big deal. the World worships sex because it doesn't realise that they're supposed to worship the One who thought the concept up and designed the various relevant body parts, with their nerves and curves. don't make that mistake - don't overrate sex.

Seventh and Final Blood

Exam day 7 : Fluid Mechanics

By golly, this was such an end to a battle over the last 11 days

I fought so hard

Yet its like i cant push through the walls

Darn, over all i'd rate the exams as moderately tough

English, moral and management stand a chance to help me through

Same cant be said about the others.

Among the 4 core engineering subjects, in rank of easy to hard :

Maths, MOS, Thermo an then Fluid.

*sigh*

All i can do is let Gods will to be done

I practically surrender this whole exams to Him

So now i have the next big tasks ahead of me :

Prepare for next sem
Find an company for industrial training
Think of my final year project
Think of getting a gf (joke)
Get myself organised (coz im still in a mess)
Etc
Bla Bla Bla

Well

So much for first sem advance diploma exam

Now i should take a nice little break

Battle over

War not won yet.

A war is not to see who is right.

A war is to see who is left.

~The End~

Sixth Blood

Exam day 6 : Mechanics of Solids

Erm....can do but duno can get good result or not

Duno i did was right or wrong

NO comment

Almost towards the last day of exam

Less than 24 hrs before i see freedom

Cant wait......desperately cant wait

Home

Almost there.......

Last paper : Fluid Mechanics

This is another tough nut......

Fifth Blood..........

Exam day 5 : Applied Thermodynamics 1

Well, i think i almost lost my head......

Wasnt the most pleasant of papers

And i am not sure i will survive this onslaught

Got 2 more

Hope to press on

Been a tough 2 weeks all round.....

Next paper : Mechanics of Solids 1

I have absolutely no idea wat to deploy now......

Maybe let myself get fired at

=p

Brand new LOOK

Feast your eyes on the brand new LOOK 586 frame for 2008. Wonderful frame from the Italian manufacturer.

Specs:

• - Carbon VHM (Very high module)
  
• - Fork HSC6, meets the new standard EN14781 safety requirements
  
• - Single piece construction, no lugs
  
• - E-Post integrated seatpost
  
• - Integrated headset, cartridge bearings: 1-1/8" upper and 1-1/4" lower
  
• - Compressed carbon dropouts, single piece with the seat stays and chain stays. Derailleur insert is replaceable
  
• - 940g in size S, uncut seatpost
• - Fork weight: 340g

Fourth Blood

Exam day #4 : Engineering Management

All i can say is....

If i managed my time better i cud have managed to manage my management paper in a more manageable manner .... =P

But all is not lost............except maybe 20 odd marks........ =P

I live to fight another day

Next : Applied Thermodynamics I

So we need nukes here......

Third Blood......bloody third blood

As they say 1ce a luck 2wice a charm but 3 times gets u smack in the face.

They were right........

Third day of exam : Mathematics 7

IT was a blood shed in there......

Arms flying everywhere to write my answers

Brain being tossed all over the place to soak up the answer........

Legs trembling with the bitter cold......(air cond)

It was WWV in there i tell ya......

I came out of the war zone......bashed beaten bruised

I still live

Not so sure about the mission though

The battle was close

War still on......

Next target : Engineering Mangement

Drones deployed.........

Signs

Read the Signs:

1) How will you spend eternity -- Smoking or Non-smoking?

2) Dusty Bibles lead to Dirty Lives

3) It is unlikely there'll be a reduction in the wages of sin.

4) Do not wait for the hearse to take you to church.

5) If you don't like the way you were born, try being born again.

6) Looking at the way some people live, they ought to obtain eternal fire insurance soon.

7) This is a ch_ _ ch. What is missing?

8) Forbidden fruit creates many jams.

9) In the dark? Follow the Son.

10) Running low on faith? Stop in for a fill-up.

11) If you can't sleep, don't count sheep. Talk to the Shepherd

Funny!

Kids Bible quotes

Answers supposedly given by actual students taking a Bible knowledge test:

1. Noah's wife was called Joan of Ark

2. Lot's wife was a pillar of salt by day and a ball of fire by night.

3. Unleavened bread is bread made from no ingredients.

4. Moses went to the top of Mount Cyanide to get the Ten Commandments.

5. Joshua led the Hebrews in the Battle of Geritol.

6. Solomon had 300 wives and 700 porcupines.

7. Jesus was born because Mary had an immaculate contraption.

8. The epistles were the wives of the apostles.

9. One of the opposums was St. Matthew.

10. David fought the Finkelsteins, people who lived in biblical times.

11. The Jews had trouble throughout their history with unsympathetic Genitals.

Riddle 10

Q. Who was the greatest financier in the Bible?

A. Noah - he was floating his stock while everyone else was in liquidation.

Riddle 10

Q. Who was the greatest financier in the Bible?

A. Noah - he was floating his stock while everyone else was in liquidation.

Riddle 9

Q: How can you make God laugh?

A: Tell Him your plans for the future.

Riddle 9

Q. Who was the greatest female financier in the Bible?

A. Pharaoh's daughter - she went down to the bank of the Nile and drew out a little prophet.

Riddle 8

Q. What kind of motor vehicles are in the Bible?

A. Jehovah drove Adam and Eve out of the Garden in a Fury. David's Triumph was heard throughout the land. Honda... because the apostles were all in one Accord. 2 Cor. 4:8 describes going out in service in a Volkswagen Beetle: "We are pressed in every way, but not cramped beyond movement."

Riddle 7

Q. The ark was built in 3 stories, and the top story had a window to let light in, but how did they get light to the bottom 2 stories?

A. They used floodlights.

Riddle 6

Q. What do they call pastors in Germany?

A. German Shepherds.

Riddle 5

Q. Which servant of Jehovah was the most flagrant lawbreaker in the Bible?

A. Moses, because he broke all 10 commandments at once.

Riddle 4

Q. Which area of Palestine was especially wealthy?

A. The area around the Jordan - the banks were always overflowing.

Riddle 3

Q. Why do ducks have web feet?
A. To stomp out forest fires!

Q. Why do Elephants have big feet?
A. To stomp our flaming ducks!

Riddle 2

Q. Why didn't Noah go fishing?

A. He only had two worms!

Riddle 1

Q. What was William Shakespeare's favorite book of the bible?

A. The book of Acts

TOP TEN SIGNS YOU MAY NOT BE READING YOUR BIBLE ENOUGH:

10) The Preacher announces the sermon is from Galatians ... and you check the table of contents.
9) You think Abraham, Isaac & Jacob may have had a few hit songs during the 60's.
8) You open to the Gospel of Luke and a WWII Savings Bond falls out.
7) Your favorite Old Testament Patriarch is Hercules.
6) A small family of woodchucks has taken up residence in the Psalms of your Bible.
5) You become frustrated because Charlton Heston isn't listed in either the Concordance or the Table of Contents.
4) Catching the kids reading the Song of Solomon, you demand: "Who gave you this stuff?"
3) You think the Minor Prophets worked in the quarries.
2) You keep falling for it every time when Pastor tells you to turn to First Condominiums.
And the number one sign you may not be reading your Bible enough:
1) The kids keep asking too many questions about your usual bedtime story: "Jonah the Shepherd Boy and His Ark of Many Colors."

Second Blood

Second day of exams - English for Management

Well, second paper. OK la. Near disaster coz had to rewrite a not so nice proposal letter. :p

And will u ppl stop aiming at me. Lolz. I knw u all have very high regard for my english but it isnt so until i get the final grade. After that u can shoot me all u want. I'll walk away laughing anyway
:)

Next : Maths VII

OMG

So tough

I need more help in this paper.

Sheesh, not the kind of maths i like actually

Wat do i need........hmmm

Lets see...........

A fleet of......

Kirov airships!

But ground artillery gona be fierce........

First Blood.......

Todays exam - Moral dan Etika

Well, it went well. LOL. Wast TOO bad a paper. Im sure to pass this one. But i surrender this

paper and all my other papers into God hands. I lay it before the Lord for He knows wats best and

i give Him praise and thanks in all situations. Coz His ways are higher than my ways and He has a

plan for my life. Tomoro is English. Wont take it too lightly though. Overconfidence kills.

Haha.

War continues

Battle No 2 coming up

Where's the Tesla Coils when i need them?

Lunch

Today i had bread for lunch.

2 pcs - butter + jam
2 pcs - butter + jam
2 pcs - butter + black pepper

Thats rite........u heard me..........butter n black pepper...........and its so nice! =)

Cool Stuff

Some nice backgrounds from Crossmap....the last one is my own rendering. HEhe.