Conquering Mount Kinabalu, KK 2011

    Climbing our highest mountain had been a dream since small but never thought about realizing it. Last year my dear friend in Kelantan contacted me and the rest of my gang to propose a trip to conquer the highest mountain in Malaysia, Mount Kinabalu in KK. On 4/3/11, seven of us (Bent, Sze In, Kim Fung, Kim Huang, Chin Hong, Luo Yang and me) boarded the plane to KK with one goal in mind: conquer Mount Kinabalu!

Being unfit me, climbing up had been a physical exhausting and mental torturing experience. I am practically out of breath after every 20 steps of climbing, both my thighs crammed causing me to stop so many time and I nearly gave up the climb when we reach the junction where Timpohon Gate climbers meets.My mistake was I did not really exercise my body well ahead (both my thigh crammed N numbers of time, tears nearly rolled out of my eyes due to the pain), carrying my back pack weighing 8kg consisting of my clothes, survival kits and photographic gears! (gave up carrying my bag and hired our guide to carry my bag after 4 kilometers), we took the longer trail from Mersilau Gate where it is further by 2 kilometers compared with Timpohon Gate.

From my friends encouragement and support, I strengthen my resolve and climb up to Laban Rata Base Camp (8.5km from Mersilau Gate, 3000m above sea water level). I nearly cried when reach Laban Rata because I cannot imagine me able to reach there with my situation. We had our dinner and retreated to our room to rest very early due to we will start climbing to the summit at 2.30am the next day. Knowing what will happen during tomorrow's climb, I removed all unnecessary items from my back pack and bought anti-cramp ointment from the base camp's store (at 3x the normal price compared to normal stores below the mountain) and rub my thighs hoping it will be eased.

The climb to the summit was not so bad. My thighs did not cramp once as I keep rubbing the ointment whenever we stop. Chin Hong and me reach the summit at 4008m above sea level. This is the minimum for one to earn their certificate of recognition for climbing Mont Kinabalu. We know our body is at the limit and the further we climb up means the further we have to climb down later. In addition we will descend to Timpohon Gate the same day later. Bent, Sze In, Kim Fong, Kim Huang and Luo Yang managed to reach the optional Low's Peak 4095.2m above sea level. I am proud of you guys! ;-)

This trip is really a satisfying one. We had so much fun together and able to reach the peak of the highest mountain in Malaysia. By the way the highest mountain in South East Asia is not Mount Kinabalu. It is Mount Hkakabo Razi 5,881m height in Kachin, Myanmar. Don't be surprised cause what we read in our text book is wrong ;-)

Ling San Pagoda at Tuaran, KK, Sabah with Journey to the West figures (Sha Zhang, Chu Pak Kai and Yu Long, Monkey King and Monk Tang can't fit to the frame)
D90 12-24mm f/4 lens @ 18mm, 1/320sec, f/8, ISO 200

Ling San Pagoda at Tuaran, KK, Sabah
D90 35mm f/2 lens @ 1/100sec, f/8, ISO200

Road to Mersilau Gate rest area
D90 35mm f/2 lens @ 1/100sec, f/8, ISO200

Two pretty ladies preparing mentally for the great challenge tomorrow
D90 50mm f/1.8 lens @ 1/2000sec, f/4, ISO400

Up close of moss growing on boulders at Mersilau Gate
D90 5-mm f/1.8 lens @ 1/2500sec, f/2.8, ISO400

Lovely couple, Bent Tan and Sze In at a water fall from Mersilau Gate trail
D90 35mm f/2 lens @ 1/30sec, f/2.8, ISO200

Almost there. Ugly Sister peak visible
D90 35mm f/2 lens @ 1/500sec, f/5.6, ISO400

Laban Rata Base Camp at 3000m above sea level
D90 35mm f/2 lens @ 1/1000sec, f/5.6, ISO200

Ugly Sister, King Edward and Tunku Abdul Rahman peaks of Mt. Kinabalu
D90 35mm f/2 lens @ 1/2500sec, f/5.6, ISO400

Starry starry night @ Laban Rata Base Camp
D90 12-24mm f/4 lens @ 12mm, 30sec, f/4, ISO800

South Peak, Mt. Kinabalu
D90 35mm f/2 lens @ 1/200sec, f/4, ISO400

St. John's Peak, Mt. Kinabalu
D90 35mm f/2 lens @ 1/200sec, f/4, ISO400

Ugly Sister Peak, Mt. Kinabalu
D90 35mm f/2 lens @ 1/200sec, f/4, ISO200

Yes! I did it!
D90 35mm f/2 lens @ 1/800sec, f/4, ISO200

There are more pictures of our trip in my facebook account. Click this link if you are interested >>> Mt. Kinabalu, KK 2011 Album

2010 is Gone 2011 is Here

Year 2010 had given way to 2011, a brand new year especially for me, Furby and our cute little golden puppy Bear Bear. We shifted into a new home and experienced 00:00:01 1.1.2011 together in our little home. Lots of new things happened in my life. A new house we rented in Puchong which almost everything in it is new, a new neighborhood, a new family member: little golden puppy, a new used car we got for a great price from our good friend, reporting back to my company's main office which I left for 2 years where many new faces and rules and regulations imposed (swt). It enough for me to kick start a brand new year in an absolutely new environment.

Recapping what I achieved in 2010. Using back my 2010 resolutions as a guide will be easier:

1. Ring the bell. ^_-  Did not managed to ring it. But did proposed to Furby :-)
2. Build our own home sweet home. It's under construction ;-)
3. Istanbul (Failed to go there last year. This year must go before project finish!) + Euro trip with my beloved. Failed miserably to fulfill this :-(
4. Visit to my ancestors’ mother land - China. Big success. Visited China twice in 2010. Chengdu and Beijing. Both a great trip for me and Furby to remember ^.^
5. A new car. Not exactly new but, yeap done it ;-)
6. Further reduce nicotine intake. I'll confess that it's much lesser than 2009's intake
7. Bring my family a trip oversea. Failed :-(
8. Enjoy 2010 with no regret. No regret!

My set of new year resolution for 2011:
1. Earn more and spend less.
2. Spend more time with family.
3. Bring my family to a oversea trip.
4. Another try to ring the bell.
5. Improve my career achievement and status.
6. Have more fun with friends.
7. Further more nicotine intake.
8. Finish up BMC project and see it operate.
9. Go for an oversea trip with Furby (our Europe Trip)
10. Reach the tip of South East Asia.
11. Improve my physical health.

I think that's all for now. If want to write everything it will be damn long list. Lets see how many can I achieve.

Back From Heaven, Straight To Hell

I'm back from a great trip in Sichuan, China. Visited the busy city of Chengdu, cute and cuddly pandas, amazing ancient hydraulic technology, breath taking Huang Long and Jiu Zhai Gou, gigantic Buddha in Leshan and relaxing Emeishan.

I'm now back in Abu Dhabi, sitting in a never ending problem at BMC project and lonely bed room at home.

What a big contrast.

Anyway, read this touching picto story in FB (shared by Darek from Lowyat Forum) and decided to share it too at Ed's Place. I know some of you might have read it before, sorry cause I'm a little slower. There might be others that have not seen it. Cheers :-)

In the mean time, I'm sorting out thousands of pictures snapped in my Sichuan trip to be edited and uploaded to Flickr & Facebook. Have some patient ok? ^^

Happy Father's Day Daddy

Happy Father's Day daddy. You are the best person in my life. Love you so much. Be healthy and happy always. Hope next year I will be at home to celebrate with you. ^^

Picture of my mom, dad and me taken lately in Melaka.
D90 35mm f/2 at 1/50, f/2, ISO 640

The Cycle - by Thom Hogan

The Cycle
June 11 (commentary)--Another pro sent me a short summary of what he's learned over the years. I've re-adapted it and call it the "cycle," and it's a version of what I've been writing about in recent times:

1. We start with a simple, uncomplicated, small camera.
2. We yearn for bigger, fancier cameras.
3. We earn enough to buy a series of bigger, fancier cameras until...
4. We have the biggest, fanciest camera.
5. We get tired of lugging heavy stuff around and learning hugely complex controls, so...
6. We yearn for smaller, simpler cameras.
7. We buy progressively smaller and simpler cameras until...
8. We end up shooting with a simple, uncomplicated, small camera.

It seems that most of the camera companies got stuck producing products for Step 3 and 4. They don't see the value in producing the product we want for Step 8 (e.g., FM3D or 28TiD). Meanwhile, the truly small cameras (e.g. iPhone through Coolpix) get progressively better and are cheap. 

Original Author - Thom Hogan www.bythom.com

TGIF Dinner at Dome Cafe

Thank God It's Friday (TGIF) !!!!!
The only day where our life is a little bit happier.
The only day where we can sleep a little bit longer.
The only day where our mood is a little bit better.
The only day where we can be a little bit lazier.
The only day where we spend our time (on Facebook/blog/surfing/manga/anime/variety show/game) a little bit more.
The only day where our meal is a little bit heavier.
The only day where we don't have to work!

Pictures of our latest TGIF dinner at Dome Cafe:

Dome of the World
D90 35mm f/2 at 1/125sec f/2.8 ISO200

Seafood Pasta
D90 35mm f/2 at 1/15sec f/4 ISO450

Green Curry Chicken with Coconut Milk Rice
D90 35mm f/2 at 1/15sec f/4 ISO360

Smiley face ^_^
D90 35mm f/2 at 1/15sec f/4 ISO400

Happy Mother's Day Mommy

Today is Mother's Day. Although I'm not able to celebrate this great day with my beloved Mommy, I really wish that she have a greatest day today. Thanks Mommy for bringing me up to the person I am now. I love you.

Greatest Mommy in the world.

D90 50mm f/1.8 at 1/60sec f/1.8 ISO800

Blogspot Finally!!!!

Finally I've made my mind to migrate from Friendster Blog to Blogspot. All these years I've reluctant to shift my blog to a better or proper blog domain like Blogspot/Typepad/Wreatch/etc... Main reason is to be a little different from everybody :p But I've again encounter the annoying problem with my Friendster Blog, problem for readers to post comments... And that does it! Bye bye Friendster Blog and hello http://www.ed5place.blogspot.com/!

So... I'm not sure how to transfer all my previous posts here (and also I'm lazy to do it manually), if any of you are interested on them, you can read them at this link: My Old Friendster Blog