Sunny Outdoors

31 Oct 2010  - This is my first time participating in the Genting Trailblazer. Having heard so much about it from friends and read so much about it on the Internet, I was really excited to be finally here. The race began with an easy 4k run on paved roads that led into the Genting forest. In the forest, The terrain was undulating, with lots of steep slopes going up and down. You even had to slide on your backsides to get down from the steeper ones. The ground was muddy as it had been raining the entire week. The adventure race that was held the day before only made it worse. Race Route - 14 Km Sliding down the slope ! (Photo by Tony Tay) Hiking does not equate running. I learned this the hard way when I got into the forest trail. The initial 4k had  already exhausted me. I was also nursing a bad cold. Coupled with inadequate training... well I have been to many hikes but have never ran beyond 10k till now. This is the most excruciating 10k run for me. I was dehydrated and

10 July 2010 - The mountain was swarmed with blood sucking leeches ! Almost everyone in the group got bitten, myself included. Some even had multiple bites. Legs and ankles were still bleeding at dinner time ...  These suckers came in different lengths and sizes -  there were small thin ones (that can easily squeeze into your shoes) and long fat ones that looked like an earthworm. We constantly had to look at our shoes to check.  Without fail,  every 5 minutes or so, there will be leeches making their way up for a fresh blood meal ! Even when we stopped, we had to scan the ground for leeches.  A lot of us got bitten when we stopped to rest for the first time.  You stop to catch your breath and have a drink of water and the next thing you know, you have leeches making their way up from the ground to your shoes and ankles. Yikes ! Although, I got bitten by one blood sucker who made it up to my ankle and had a good feast, there were at least 10+ leeches that attempted to do so ! I ha

24 to 28 Jun 2010 - This was our second time in Phuket. We were there about 6 years ago, before the tsunami happened.  Surprisingly, the beaches and the places look similar to the Phuket we had in our memory.  A lot of rebuilding must have taken place since the 2004 tsunami disaster. When we arrived at the airport, everything was chaotic at the arrival hall. Taxi touts rushed at you with placards showing fares to Patong and other areas of Phuket.  Having read about this from websites, we  quickly made our way out of the arrival hall. We turned right after exiting the door and there it was, a booth with a sign that says "Taxi Meter".  Despite the big "Taxi Meter" signboard, we were still quoted a flat fee to Patong !!! 550 baht from the airport to Patong (including the 100 baht Airport taxi tax).  I caught a glimpse of those prices offered by the touts - one of which indicated 600 baht to Patong. Patong We stayed at the Patong Bay Garden Resort which was located

19 Jun 2010 - Gunung Belumut (1010 m) is situated in Kluang, Johor and is about 2.5 hrs drive from Singapore.  We arrived at about 9am and started the trek assisted by local guides. It is compulsory to hire a local guide from the ranger office when you trek in Belumut. Depending on your group size, you may need more than one guide.   At the foot of the mountain, there was a nice river where families played and swam in the water. In the beginning, the trail was generally flat and easy.  Like all gunungs I have attempted so far, the easy part doesn't last long.  Once we got nearer to the midway point, the trail becomes steep and demanding.  Gentle beginnings .... Steep midsection The midway point ! There were lots of fallen trees and branches along the way.  I knocked my shin twice (double ouch !) onto fallen logs when i tried to get across them.  The fatigue must have impaired my judgment and sense of balance.  Anyway, the only good thing about injuring the same spot twice