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...

A kick start to 2010

I celebrated my new year's eve getting to know a whole group of new frens thanks to "Uncle"'s invite to his new pad for a get-together.... There was good food, "Sex on the beach", great company and to top it all off a fantastic rooftop view of the KL skyline... At the stroke of midnite the skies were all filled fireworks near and far lighting up and smoking up all of KL as far as the eye can see... It was kinda cool to watch so many fireworks all at one shot... the benefits of living in a condo with a sky lounge and loft huh? The gathering was definitely one of my more enjoyable new year celebrations... perhaps it's a sign of maturity (hate to use old age) that I prefer a more laid back celebration.... :)

To kick start my new year, what better way than to go hiking... yeah rite... I could think of a million other ways - nah..actually just one... to sleep in!! Haha!! But anyway... woke up at 0630hrs and headed to Cheras for my hike up Bukit Apek... The whole time I was driving and hiking there was only one thing on my mind... WHY??!!! Haha!! Why did I agree to such torture the first day of a new year? It was during the early stretches of the hike that I had to acknowledge my lack of exercise throughout 2009... I was sooooo UNFIT!!! haha! I was huffing and puffing all the way.... luckily I didnt give up and managed to reach the peak... but there was no view... Isk.. what a let down.. took us 1hr 40mins to hike to the summit... But the worse was yet to come.. thanks to my smarty pants fren who thot that he would know the way and decided to take a different route down... It took us 2hrs and 20 mins.... yeah... it's a first for me...that the hike up is shorter than the hike down (except for KK when I busted my knee but that's a different story...). Anyhow, lesson learnt... only hike if there is proper guide who knows his way.... or else stick to the beaten road...

the starting point....

I spent the rest of the day napping... My sleep deprived body was complaining... haha!! :)

So what is my new year resolution? never really had any specific targets but I would like to try and lose some weight, get fit, better myself in all ways possible and to have "HOPE".... with hope things just dont seem as bad... :)

Wishing everyone a fantastic year ahead.... Make it the best you have ever had... Carpe Diem... :)

*pictures of food and ppl were flitched from Kevin... (ooopss..hope u dont mind...)

One Malaysia Wedding

I attended one of my highschool mate's wedding over the weekend... It was truly an extremely interesting one.... Firstly Eve is a Christian indian so she had her ceremony at the church which I unfortunately didnt get to attend.. So I attended the dinner at nite not knowing what to expect... Invitation says HGH Convention Centre so there I went...

I was first greeted by throngs of people all beautifully dressed in Sarees of all colours... Some were truly breathtaking... Lo behold right outside the hall was the registration table... how odd huh? Normal indian wedding you just go in... this was where things started to get really interesting... I signed myself in...got my assigned table.. No 56... went through the door and Oh My God!!! 95 tables in total...

Was the first to my table, sat down and picked the menu up... hmm... what for dinner? Mutton curry perhaps.... Imagine what I saw....

A full 9 course chinese dinner complete with sharkfin soup and ending with chinese pastries... whadayaknow... haha!! Chinese food at an indian wedding and that was when I noticed chopsticks being laid instead of fork and spoon... hmmm... :D

Then there was these little cups of something alchoholic... wasnt too sure what it was for but I soon found out... :) But before that finally the rest of my gang appeared and we went on a picture taking frenzy....
Soon the announcement came for the bride and groom to enter and before the door opened we had the shock of our lives... There was fireworks being lit within the hall and it was flying our way!!! OMG!!! it flew right above our heads and hit the wall.. yikes!! Then the music started playing... We had Black Eye Peas with 'I got a feeling' playing as the couple walk in... interesting huh? The best has yet to come... After a brief intro the emcees for the nite welcomed dinner into the hall and dinner came with this!!!! Look for yourself... Our very own fire show....hahaha!!

Somewhere between the 4th and 5th course of the meal we were told to welcome the bride on the stage for the cake cutting and champagne pouring... That was normal... what came after was not... We had a yam seng session.... haha!! Now that is what those little cups were for... It's the wine to toast... :D

To top it all off we had a Philipino band playing throughout the whole nite... This is definitely the most eclectic wedding I have ever attended... It truly is One Malaysia....

Oh I almost forgot... we had a photo montage of their childhood photos all the way to adulthood... It was the coolest I have ever seen... It was like an Ipod advertisement... Coolies... :D

Well, that's the story of the wedding... I do wish Evelyn and Lionel all the best in their marriage... May it be filled with love and laughter always....

Hey you....

Yes you....

I am sorry....

(written in my best hawt pink crayon!)

The act that instilled fear....

Yesterday, 4th June 2009, my baby bolster died... :(

My mum was having her bouts of spring cleaning and decided to give my bolster a few hard whacks to shoo away any dustmites that might have been there... In the act of doing so, she murdered my bolster because the the skin of my bolster was already old and frail and it could not take the hard blows by my mum... so it just split and it's inerts started spilling out... It was truly a sad day... I have had the bolster since I was a wee little baby and have hugged it with me so such a very long time.... I hope it died feeling well loved... :)

What made the act worse was that it was done with the witness of some of my other frens which were sitting quietly on my bed... upon seeing the cruel act, everyone feared for their life... They were worried that if they misbehaved that they would get the same treatment and their inerts would be exposed as well... So one by one started lining up along the wall and stood real still... "sshhh.... if we stand real still she wont notice us... " they stood so still they were hardly breathing... There were just worried if they made any wrong moves, that it would be their lives next...

But dont they look adorable squeezing in fear...? hehe!! my cute story of the day....

In Loving Memory....

Although our interactions has been few and apart I remember the first time I saw you, you ran to me and I was so worried you would lick me and you did!! hehe!! but only once... then after that you were such a good boy... Everytime I visited, you just followed me around hopeful to get some chin scratches and belly rubs.... Such a frenly boy... so cute and well behaved... Not once have you pounce nor lick me again.... You would just sit by my leg everytime I was there contented that I would stroke you occasionally... Ignoring ur little owner instead... hehe!!


You definitely will be remembered fondly.... May you rest in peace Max...




*Picture stolen from Renee

In Loving Memory....

A faithful companion...

A trustworthy fren...

A perfect fit for me...

An endless list of memories...

21 Oct 2000 - 7 September 2008

A fren very dear to me passed away yesterday.... It was a shock when I first found out... It was surreal... didnt expect it to happen... definitely wasnt expecting it to happen... you have gone through much worse and still survive... but it seems this was one trip too many for it... You gave me one last 'tick' and went on your way....

You will dearly be missed... you have gone through so much with me... and you have always been there for me... through the highest mountains and the deepest caves you have been alongside me.... Through rainy days and sunny days I could always count on you.. But the time had come for me to say goodbye...

I remember when I first held you in my hands... I was unwrapping this real long piece of paper that just went around and around you entire body... poor little fella... got kinda tangled... but once I got you out and and placed you on me... you were a perfect fit... :)

Throughout the years you have gone through some minor and major parts replacement and yet still survive... You were really a fighter... Even when you momentarily stopped due to excess vapour and everyone thought you were a goner, you still managed to revive yourself back... but this time was just beyond your means I suppose... :(

How I wish you didnt have to go this way... couldnt you have just given me warning first?

Goodbye my dear fren...

May you always be fondly remembered....

Time of death : 1120

My Condolences....

My best friend's dad passed away on Friday 15th Feb 2008.
May he rest in peace....
My condolences to the family...
I am sure he is in a good place....

May God bless his soul...