Who's reading??

Hmmm... I wonder whether is there anyone who actually reads my blog.. Especially since I had such a long hiatus...

So, just to poll... If u are reading this, why don't u say hi in the comment box of this posting... :D

Focus Ai Chin!! Focus!!

Okay... I have been sitting in front of my textbook for more than an hour now and I have yet to flip the page... I just can't seem to get my mindset into the game... :(

Exam is tomorrow!!! Come on.. Buck up!!

Someone help me!!! I need some motivation... :(

Shell Eco Marathon Asia 2011

I signed up to be a volunteer at the Shell Eco Marathon 2011 Asian leg recently... It was hosted in Malaysia from 6-9th July 2011... We saw 13 countries participating and 94 vehicles in total. I have not had such a fun and tiring week in a long time... Had to wake up at 6am everyday just to make sure we were at the tracks by 7.30am.

I met a lot of new Shell colleagues from other countries and offices... :) Also got the chance to meet many students from around Asia... It impresses me so much to see them put so much efforts into building their vehicles... The trials and tribulations they have gone through in just this 4 days... Some teams managed to pass the scrutineering process quickly and get themselves on the track... other tried day after day to pass the technical inspections... but none of them every gave up... Even til the last day and hour we still saw students going through the inspections in hope of getting the all important safety and technical inspection stickers so that they can compete...

It was heartbreaking to see some teams unable to pass, even worse for teams who managed to pass but were too last to compete... There were even teams who went against all odds and succeeded... They were marked from the beginning as the team which had too many technical issues to even pass through the technical inspection but day by day they made the changes required and on the final day they got their approvals and got to the track... That was truly pure determination. I salute them for the efforts and them being a Malaysian team, I am even more proud of them.

Random photos from the 4 days....

All the vehicles and students line up for an official photo...

Lollipop girls? haha!

Event crew...

Mike! He developes the fuel for Ferrari F1... cool huh?

The infamous SIC umbrella... and Coco...

Riding a buggy on the circuit...

Just me and the circuit....

Moses Chan anyone? He is the Shell Fuelsave Ambassador for Hong Kong..

and the race begins...

New friends...

Steve is literally head and shoulders above me... ;)

Each country is represented at the opening ceremony...

Bali - 4th to 10th May 2011 - Part 2

Last day in Ubud before we head to Tanjung Benoa..... So we just walked around Ubud town and for the first time during this trip I bought quite a few items for myself... =) Last stop before leaving is for lunch... We went to another recommended place; Ryoshi... yeaps.. a Japanese restaurant... haha!! In Bali... Food was surprisingly quite good.. We has just a simple cold noodle and rice bowl with a couple of added side dish... It was simple and light yet well prepared...

Cold soba with tempura bits...

Fried Katsu

Fried Fish cakes

Sukiyaki rice bowl....

 Now that our tummies are full, time to head to Tanah Lot.. Can't go Bali and miss Tanah Lot right? So we are off to catch the sunset... Or so we thought. In the end it was just gradual darkness so we didn't bother to stay longer... but it was beautiful nevertheless...

No, am not committing suicide... just like sitting by the ledge...

It just me and the sea...

 

Now we are off for dinner at Jimbaran... our guide was nice enough to take us to a cheaper outlet which served smaller portions so that we could just experience the beachside setting... Wasnt too pleasant an experience since it was so dark I could hardly see what I ate... haha!

Tables we set with by the beach with candlelights...

My mini set of seafood...

Aili's without the crab...

 Time to check in to the hotel... This time I booked Oasis at Tanjung Benoa... a big disappointment since this hotel cost the most but it was also had the lousiest room and lousiest exchange rates.. I am beginning to think that Bookings.com should not sell rooms in USD if the hotels cant charge is USD. They keep having to convert it to Rupiah but with ridiculous exchange rates.. I just felt so cheated.

This was it... Ewww...

I got conned by this picture not knowing that this is the only nice thing about the hotel... Uurgghhh...!

 Last day in Bali... managed to persuade Ai Li to attend a surfing lesson with me... heheh!!! It was fun fun fun!! But extremely tiring... I can see why surfers are so fit... getting out to see with the board itself requires so much effort... The waves we just relentless... I kept thinking I was taking 10 steps forward and 20 steps backwards...

Lets start with some basic briefing...

Some beach side practice...

Warm up next...

Now into the sea we go... Paddle paddle paddle...

Time to get up....

and I fell as expected..

and again...

maybe?

nopes...

No again...

and again...

Finally... Tadaa!!!!

 After such vigorous exercise, it's definitely time for a spa session.... Mmm.... quite cool... it's a room for 2 with a private tub and all...

Would have been better with some air conditioning though....

Final night in Bali and final meal as well... Made reservations at the famous Bumbu Bali... It definitely did not disappoint...

Open kitchen where we can see all the action...

 

 We ordered the Rijstaffel which is actually a set meal where they served a bit of everything on a big platter... the portions were ridiculous... we order a 1 person set and this was what we got....

Appetizers... + an additional cold chicken salad...

Mains...

Desserts....

 It was definitely a good ending to our week in Bali... Would I go back? Maybe yes, maybe no. Didn't like the sweaty sticky feeling throughout the entire trip.... we shall see... so far I have not repeated my travel destinations yet so this might not be the first choice for repeats...